Pedro Martínez trusts his squad after victory in Milan

The Real Madrid achieved an important victory in Italy by defeating Milan 89-98, a result that allowed the Madrid team to clear up away games and reach a balance of 2-3. Pedro Martínez, coach of the white team, analyzed in a press conference the key aspects of a match that was defined starting from the second quarter, when the Madrilenians managed to impose their pace and control over the game.

A complicated start corrected in defense

During the first half, the Real Madrid faced evident difficulties that Martínez himself acknowledged frankly. Turnovers were excessive, and controlling the defensive rebound became a significant problem that could have complicated the match even more. However, in the last six or seven minutes before halftime, the team managed to build a lead that was crucial for morale.

"In the first half, we had many turnovers; we did not control the defensive rebound, and it was a big problem. But in the last 6-7 minutes, we managed to have a good lead at halftime that gave us confidence and put Milan on edge," explained the Catalan coach in Italy. That ability to react in the final moments of the first half proved to be the key to preventing the opponent from gaining distance at a time when the Madrilenians were not performing well.

Second half of control and tactical adjustments

The second half painted a completely different picture. The Real Madrid began with remarkable offensive effectiveness, scoring high-quality baskets that allowed them to open a gap. Martínez highlighted his team's ability to hit fortunate shots in the third quarter, a moment when the difference became more comfortable. However, Milan's coach, Poeta, made a strategic defensive change that complicated Madrid's plans in the final stretch.

"In the second half, we started very well, scoring incredible baskets, with some lucky shots in the third quarter. At the end of the third quarter, the Milan coach changed the defense, became less aggressive in the pick&roll, and we had more problems in the final minutes," Martínez pointed out. Despite that tactical correction from the opponent, the Real Madrid managed to maintain their advantage and successfully close out a match that presented challenges from the start.

The mindset as a differential factor

Beyond the numbers and tactics, Pedro Martínez emphasized the mental attitude of his players as the true differentiator of the match. The ability to overcome a poor start, maintain concentration when things were not flowing, and continue competing after the opponent's defensive changes were elements that the coach particularly valued.

"What I liked most about the match was our ability to overcome a first few minutes with too many turnovers and remain focused," he stated. In contrast, he acknowledged that the turnovers, especially in the first quarter, were the most negative aspect of the collective performance. "What I liked least were the turnovers we had, especially in the first quarter," he emphasized.

Confidence in individual and collective quality

When asked about the uneven performance of some of his players, Martínez offered a balanced perspective that reflects his experience as a coach. He acknowledged that in seasons of high competitive density, with three or four games per week, it is normal for not all players to perform at their best every matchday. However, he dismissed any concerns about individual performance.

"When we play many games, many weeks we play three or four like this, coaches and fans would like it if players always played well. But I'm not worried that a player didn't have their best day today. All our players are of tremendous quality and will have opportunities to redeem themselves from a poor performance," he expressed confidently.

Complete roster and no market movements

One of the most relevant issues addressed in the press conference was the possibility of signings during the transfer market. Pedro Martínez was categorical about this: the Real Madrid does not plan to make any moves in the market. The confidence in the available players is total, despite having two long-term injured players.

"No, it is not planned, we have a very large squad. We have two long-term injured players (Deck and Garuba), but we believe that we can remain competitive with the players we have, as we have shown today," the coach indicated. This statement reflects the solidity of a team structure that, even with significant absences, maintains the competitive capacity necessary to face each match with guarantees.

The victory in Milan, therefore, not only represents three valuable points on the table but also validates the strategy of maintaining the current squad without new signings. The team has demonstrated on the court that it can compete and win in difficult conditions, which reinforces the trust that Martínez places in his players. With this mindset of confidence in their own resources and the ability to react to adversity, the Real Madrid faces the upcoming commitments with a solid foundation on which to build their campaign.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Pedro Martínez confía en su plantilla tras triunfo en Milán