Madrid conquers the Euroleague Supercup against Olympiacos

Real Madrid has written its name in the history of the EuroLeague Supercup. The whites defeated Olympiacos in a match of the highest demand, where every possession was a tactical battle. The final score of 89-93 reflects the intensity of a final contested in Abu Dhabi, where Pedro Martínez needed just two official games to touch metal after taking over the Madrid bench.

The victory comes at a special moment for the white entity. After a previous season without trophies, the Madrid team adds a title that generates excitement for a campaign that promises to be demanding. The coach, former Valencia Basket coach, appeared at a press conference with a smile that reflected the magnitude of the achievement in the first official tournament of the season.

Martínez assesses the level of the competition

Pedro Martínez did not hide his satisfaction when analyzing what it meant to conquer the EuroLeague Supercup. The Madrid coach emphasized that facing great teams gives special value to trophies, something he has experienced at this event. “I am very happy. You give value to trophies when you play against great teams, and in this competition, we have had four of the eight or ten best teams in all of Europe and that is very important for us,” explained the coach during his statement to the media.

The presence of elite rivals has been decisive in understanding this title. Martínez insisted that competing against top-level teams provides a different perspective on the achievements obtained. This philosophy has characterized his message since he arrived at the white team, emphasizing that every victory against strong opponents generates confidence towards the season's objectives.

The group's mentality, key to success

What has surprised and satisfied Martínez the most is the attitude shown by the players day in and day out. The coach insisted that the group's mentality is “incredible” and hopes that this title will help them improve as a team. “For me, it is incredible that the players have that mentality. I hope that gives us confidence to improve and work as a group,” said the coach, who also wanted to highlight the internal atmosphere in the locker room.

Martínez took the opportunity to describe the atmosphere he perceives both in training and at the hotel where the team is staying. “What I am is happy with the mentality that the players have day to day; they believe in what we do. They get along very well with each other, there is very good chemistry as I see in trainings and in the hotel,” expressed the coach, emphasizing that internal cohesion is a fundamental factor to face a season of great demands.

Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid, has also expressed his satisfaction with the achievement. Martínez revealed that he had a conversation with the club's highest official, who is “very happy” with the title. The coach interpreted this victory as an energetic starting point after a preseason that has just finished. “I hope this gives us energy to keep working because we just finished the preseason,” Martínez affirmed, who considers that the official competition really started in Abu Dhabi.

The third quarter, decisive moment in Abu Dhabi

When analyzing the progress of the match, Martínez identified the third quarter as the most critical moment of the final. Olympiacos started strongly in that phase, which forced the Madrid team to temporarily lose control. The coach described what happened as “a survival exercise” in which the whites had to maintain composure despite the difficulties.

“The key moment was in the third quarter because Olympiacos started well, we lost control, Edy committed fouls, Luwawu-Cabarrot too… and there it was a survival exercise,” explained the Madrid coach. This reference to the fouls committed by key players shows how the match was always on a knife-edge, where any detail could tip the balance one way or the other.

Despite the moments of uncertainty, Martínez maintained a balanced perspective on what was achieved. He acknowledged that they are celebrating the present, but he also warned that the team must be aware that they have been together for a short time and that there is room for improvement. “It’s very good; we are celebrating the present, but we must be aware that we have been together for a short time and we need to improve,” he stated cautiously.

Tavares shines as MVP and the roster responds

Edy Tavares was named MVP of the EuroLeague Supercup, a recognition that Martínez deemed very deserved. The Cape Verdean pivot was fundamental in the title, acting as the defensive and offensive beacon that characterizes his play. “I think Tavares’ MVP is very deserved, but I believe all the players played very well and had important moments,” valued the coach, who preferred to share the credit among the entire collective.

Tavares, in his subsequent statement, showed a selfless attitude regarding individual accolades. The African giant emphasized that what is important is that the team wins and continues to progress. “When the team wins, everyone wins. It could have been me or anyone else. What's important is to win and for the team to keep progressing,” expressed the tournament MVP, who missed the last Final Four and has shown he is in great shape.

The collective performance was highlighted by Tavares, who acknowledged that the match was tight and that the team experienced ups and downs during the game. “The team did a good job. We didn’t know where the game was going; it was very tight… we had ups and downs,” commented the pivot, emphasizing that the victory was the result of a joint effort.

Martínez emphasized that the squad is very deep and that all players are important to face a season that will demand playing more than ninety games. “We have a very deep squad and all the players are very important. We need everyone for a very demanding season where we will play more than 90 games; we need them to be confident and feel important,” explained the coach, who seeks for every member of the group to feel valued.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Madrid conquista la Supercopa de Euroliga ante Olympiacos