Mateo hails spirit and togetherness of triumphant Real
After seeing his team overcome all the odds to be crowned Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champions, Real Madrid Head Coach Chus Mateo argued that a never say die mentality was the key factor behind the latest of Los Blancos’ record 11 continental crowns.
Real looked dead and buried after two games of its playoffs series against Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade, facing the daunting task of winning twice in Belgrade. That was duly achieved and Mateo’s men became the first team ever to recover from a 0-2 series deficit to advance into the Final Four.
Then Friday's semifinal against FC Barcelona saw Real fall 9 points behind shortly before halftime, but then roar back to overcome its old archrival in the second half. And the road to glory concluded as Sunday’s title decider against Olympiacos Piraeus saw yet another comeback act, with Real overturning a 12-point deficit to take victory through a dramatic game-winner from Sergio Llull.
Mateo said he believes that his team's wild series of triumphs in the face of adversity was only possible because of the togetherness shown by his players, saying: "We knew it was going to be very tough, it was not going to be easy, but we believed, we believed until the end.
"We never retreat. Everybody was ready to react. When problems came, we reacted. It was good to see how the players all joined together. It’s unbelievable what we did. It was a very tough season, but with a very happy ending."
That happiest of endings ultimately came after a 0-7 run in the final 2 minutes of the title decider, and Mateo emphasized his team’s refusal to be beaten as he said: "I’m very proud of the spirit of the guys because they stuck together when things were going bad. They always believe they can win, they never surrender.
"When bad things happened – injuries, defeats – the team joined more and more and more. And when things were getting worse, we fought even more. We stayed together, we were alive until the end, and in the last game, we were able to beat a basketball machine like Olympiacos on the last shot with the only 2 points that Sergio Llull scored. It’s like a dream.
"I’m fortunate to be in charge of a very united group, and for me, that’s the most important thing. We live together like a family. We had a very tough path but we were able to fight until the end."
And for the rookie EuroLeague coach, who took over at Real last summer after a long stint as assistant to Pablo Laso, the achievement of becoming continental champion in his first season in charge was clearly a very emotional experience.
"It’s not easy to talk right now,” he said, "[The game] was up and down with emotions. I just want to live in the moment and enjoy tonight. One more beer... maybe two today!
"In the locker room after the game, there were lots of hugs and tears, because all the emotions exploded in this moment. An unbelievable moment, and right now I only want to hug my people."
In the wake of an incredible series of comebacks, we can be pretty sure that Mateo’s people will be very happy to hug him back.
Game Videos
- 01:23
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Kostas Papanikolaou: 'We want to go all the way'
- 01:18
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Evan Fournier: 'We're getting closer to our goal'
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Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:29
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Vezenkov hits a crucial three! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:18
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Hezonja monster block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
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Hezonja dunks off the baseline! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
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Peters’s dunk on the break! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
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Fernando rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
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Fernando dunks in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:05
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Fall monster dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
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Dzanan Musa: 'We have the formula of how we want to play'
- 00:52
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Walter Tavares: 'The playoffs are about defense, not offense'
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Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
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Ibaka rejects McKissic! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:23
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Wright rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:13
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Lee’s two-handed slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:24
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Nikola Milutinov: 'We know Real Madrid is capable of coming back from 0-2'
- 00:31
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Sasha Vezenkov: 'We go to finish the series on Tuesday'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e5f275e4-956d-49ff-856d-8257cd8c9822.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:25
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Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:22
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Deck ends first quarter in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:50
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Nikola Milutinov: 'We have to stay humble'
- 00:45
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Sasha Vezenkov: 'Real Madrid will come ready to play in Game 2'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/65dc624a-c107-4a2f-a63e-3660148417f3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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McKissic skies for a ferocious slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:10
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Fall detonates the dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Milutinov rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:36
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Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'
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Real Madrid-FC Bayern Munich | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
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Campazzo’s creative magic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
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Real teamwork from Madrid! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3lanP-cIS84/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Walter Tavares, March-April MVP: ‘It’s hard these days to be a big man’
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Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
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Tavares dunks in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/XBUUgvdm4pzVibXQUrm9fdYZP8FXDrr9-1744319581613.jpg]()
Walter Tavares: 'This is a gift from God'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/1dbd7a2b-309d-4eb2-aeb4-f385a10ecef6.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:15
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Moses Wright: 'It's great to be back on the court'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/5918722c-7382-462a-a0fa-aa3394e822aa.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:46
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Tavares wins it with his soft touch! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
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Hezonja rocks the rim with aplomb! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
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A huge dunk by Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:37
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Alec Peters: 'Career high, but what's sticking with me are the zero rebounds'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/be6165dc-c29e-4868-b8a1-699d05fd43f5.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Olympiacos Piraeus | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:32
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Mario Hezonja: 'Every time there is a challenge, we respond'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/96115336-839e-4057-bd83-5b13036c68a7.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
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Hezonja's reverse dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
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Ibaka's double block! Motorola Magic Moment
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Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Real Madrid | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
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Hezonja with an almighty dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
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Olympiacos Piraeus-AS Monaco | RS Round 32 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
