This is what the protagonists had to say after the Round 30 showdown between Real Madrid and LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne.
Post-game quotes: Real Madrid vs. ASVEL
Real Madrid head coach Pablo Laso:
"They are always there [Llull and Fernandez]. That's why they are great players, great veterans and the focus of the team. I think they played very good, not only jumpers, which is important, hitting shots, but also defensively and leadership. That's something that you get with time and for sure, being great players. I am very happy for the victory. I think we did a great defensive job the whole game. We still have one month [before the playoffs]. I think we have to get better and recover players.
"Congratulations to the team for the victory. For us, it was a very complicated game. We were doing the walk-through this morning and had 10 players. I believe that the effort that some players made to play, especially Vince [Poirier] and Adam [Hanga]. Vince could not practice this morning, he was sick, and Adam has carried a back problem and could barely practice this week. They made an effort to play and this is why I am very proud of this victory because it wasn't an easy game. If I were told I would play a EuroLeague game without Alocen, Causeur, Abalde, Taylor and Trey [Thompkins], I would say 'damn, I am a bit limited' but they did a great job and pulled out a win... We are once again among the best eight teams in the EuroLeague and still have games left to reach the next goal, which is to lock up a top-four spot to get the home-court advantage. I am very happy for the victory. It was a difficult game in which we did well from the beginning. In the second and third quarters, the game was played more at their rhythm. It was hard for us to break it but Rudy [Fernandez] stepped up and the fact that we played with better rhythm in the fourth quarter gave us a safe lead, enough to win it."
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne head coach TJ Parker:
"We have to play together and have to share the ball offensively, that's the most important. That's why we are missing points right now. We have to do that, but we have to work and get back together in practice... Overall, tough one. We forgot to play for 6-7 minutes. We came back in the third quarter and were up by 1, but after that, we got too much big of a lapse, not doing anything. That hurt us. In general, when you make mistakes against these teams, they punish you right away."
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Real Madrid forward Rudy Fernandez:
"We knew it was a physical team and that if wanted to get the victory, we had to match that. We played very good defense and in the last quarter, we selected better shots and had very good percentages. Then on defense, we managed to stop the push they had early in the third quarter. My shots went in today. In previous weeks, I had a sore wrist but the physios and treatment helped me arrive at the game in good shape and I had the luck that the teammates looked for me, shots went in and I helped the team win the game. It is always a pride to wear this jersey, I always said it, and as long as I am in the team, I will always give my best. Feeling the crowd's support pushes you even further to keep working and winning games for the team and our fans, of course. We know how important home-court advantage is and that is the goal."
Real Madrid center Vincent Poirier:
"I have been in a bad situation for like three weeks. I was playing bad but it happens during the season. You need to focus and step up at one time. I think I tried to do my best since a week and a half, two weeks. I feel comfortable. I feel great on the court."