Real Madrid made things 'easy' for Coach Mateo
After watching his team claim a convincing 78-66 victory over archrival FC Barcelona to reach a second consecutive championship game thanks to a dominant second-half performance, Real Madrid coach Chus Mateo made a slightly surprising claim.
"My job is easy," he said.
Easy? Well, it’s clearly not that, but Mateo was determined to deflect the praise to his players as he explained why his first season as a head coach has finished with an appearance in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Championship Game.
"We’ve got very good players," he said. "I’ve got a team that is joined to fight together, and they are trying to touch another title. I would like to go with them for this title. Why not dream for one more night?"
Living the dream, of course, requires those very good players to be well-managed and Mateo did that to perfection on Friday night in Kaunas by overcoming a long list of absentees to get the very most out of the men at his disposal – including a surprise start for youngster Eli Ndiaye to set the early defensive tone against Barca star Nikola Mirotic, who was well contained by Los Blancos all night.
If Mateo started the game with youth, however, he ended it with experience by again trusting in the trio of Sergio Rodriguez, Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez, who expertly guided their team over the finish line in the final quarter despite a combined age of 109.
Game Videos
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AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | Playoffs Game 5 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/teigg4iwfstiEoc1xSGup2QvvBoj6pC2-1746222337652.jpg]()
Jabari Parker: 'The Barcelona fans are amazing'
- 00:54
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/05/02/8j6gSPRASBZ7p9KkYXbNvC1HZzMx0kxK-1746222397140.jpg]()
Youssoupha Fall: 'We will keep that same energy'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/a808e080-40c9-4d61-85df-3a62ecb274f5.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:07
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Satoransky's huge block! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/0107f761-08f1-4658-838b-5db9dd64bb37.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 4 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/dd9ce83d-4ce3-4854-9001-c44c714ff981.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A96%3A72]()
Hezonja monster block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:25
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/9c9b78e2-52c1-4ce9-aacc-57c92a5f0125.jpg?crop=799%3A450%3Anowe%3A129%3A41]()
Fernando rocks the rim! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:24
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Fernando dunks in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:48
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/0cVxt3sTClR8Cqw566dBvpWKU8vl0qB7-1746046454067.jpg]()
Willy Hernangomez: 'Friday, we have another big opportunity'
- 00:24
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/30/WYQYNZQ9TT8ub9H86O0N7q6hbRqp3B70-1746046418026.jpg]()
Kevin Punter: 'It was a must-win for us'
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FC Barcelona-AS Monaco | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
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Parker seals the outcome! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:23
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Parker's huge buzzer-beater! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:18
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Brizuela finds Parra! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:27
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Dzanan Musa: 'We have the formula of how we want to play'
- 00:52
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/29/mO45yHFUPbCMMz3R350CVs7LLHmGDW8T-1745961668102.jpg]()
Walter Tavares: 'The playoffs are about defense, not offense'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/6c0ed04a-20cd-4422-a45b-fea872646363.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Olympiacos Piraeus | Playoffs Game 3 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:18
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/29/McK1KJFeR8gJEuYRchFQUc5Ns0L2IGFK-1745961927553.jpg]()
Ibaka rejects McKissic! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/e5f275e4-956d-49ff-856d-8257cd8c9822.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/c434196f-2c3b-4a3c-9e75-9bb1358ab5db.jpg]()
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game 2 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:22
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/223b392e-8a5d-4f1b-ae25-0b62450fbcbb.jpg?crop=1326%3A746%3Anowe%3A12%3A58]()
Deck ends first quarter in style! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:21
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Parker flushes on Barca fast break! Motorola Magic Moment,
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/65dc624a-c107-4a2f-a63e-3660148417f3.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-Real Madrid | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/52666067-1016-45a4-b5ff-200e06f4cb13.jpg]()
AS Monaco-FC Barcelona | PO Game-1 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:36
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/18/oRmwhndQqV988zEHbnvuslD9mgh0mdGM-1745012748603.jpg]()
Mario Hezonja: 'We can do great things'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/M027YYk1y4Q/maxresdefault.jpg]()
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://media-cdn.cortextech.io/3e9c96b9-823b-4571-94d2-2eddf8da1da5.jpeg?crop=1029%3A579%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
Xavi Pascual, Boniface N'Dong remember 2010 title triumph on The Crossover
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/3lanP-cIS84/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Walter Tavares, March-April MVP: ‘It’s hard these days to be a big man’
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/UWFX2gZZjxM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Real Madrid-Paris Basketball | Play-In Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:13
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b2491ced-631f-41fb-8ccb-3d90af213cfe.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A157%3A0]()
Tavares dunks in transition! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:45
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/11/w1rvNUY5pgEG6l2TwRnClu7NljJR7ZSB-1744413967189.jpg]()
Kevin Punter: 'True testament of us being a team'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/f20bc237-7edd-4cdd-b811-d7153da3cd6a.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Virtus Segafredo Bologna | RS Round 34 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/034a6c98-4fbe-48d6-bdd1-ddfdd7d0814b.jpg?crop=1277%3A718%3Anowe%3A0%3A65]()
Willy posterizes Toko! 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
- 00:46
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/10/WhvtN7sIIfLqU3suuOHoeM9jDSTYBexT-1744320572056.jpg]()
Tavares wins it with his soft touch! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/304bcd8f-a953-4947-9d15-1d7ac447a299.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A39%3A78]()
Hezonja rocks the rim with aplomb! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/12ba39ae-86e6-408f-89d2-65220c62147a.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A67%3A84]()
A huge dunk by Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/49f3b7bb-f41b-4ac0-b7b5-7d8bbea6bfd8.jpg?crop=1920%3A1080%3Anowe%3A0%3A0]()
The Fantasy Challenge Podcast prepares for the end of the regular season
- 01:32
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/RD8fDyHU6pUyP2CV8w6v7b0eaphx61MW-1743718070483.jpg]()
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
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/03/T61Q8zliJp48YkwM4WNSB86p9yKzh0km-1743714624899.jpg]()
Hezonja's reverse dunk! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/22e05e0a-3501-437f-a927-72aa26084767.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A141%3A94]()
Ibaka's double block! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:26
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/04/02/WW3uxVH8kWuBXSxAGJwMKlqfG7421anA-1743625652478.jpg]()
Jabari Parker: 'We just wanted it more'
![https://media-cdn.cortextech.io/4518e749-335e-4e06-9182-83833b8c6a21.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-FC Barcelona | RS Round 33 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d20dfdaa-e456-4839-9665-fa6505bfc263.jpg?crop=800%3A450%3Anowe%3A132%3A129]()
Hernangomez says no! Motorola Magic Moment
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The Fantasy Challenge Podcast presents: The Barcelona dilemma
"At the end of the game we could control the rhythm with our veteran players,” a happy Mateo admitted. "They were fresh at the end of the game because they didn’t play much in the beginning.
"They know how to close a game. They know European basketball, they know games like this when you have to fight to the end against a team like Barcelona, and they know how to control the rhythm at the end."
And he repeated his claim about the supposedly undemanding nature of his job, adding: "Sometimes it’s easy for a coach to let them play. I don’t have to say too much. They know how to control the rhythm, who has got to play pick and roll with Tavares, who we are going to attack. So for me, It's very easy."
It didn’t look easy at halftime when Barcelona held a 42-36 lead after converting 9 of its 14 three-point attempts. But Mateo was happy to play the long game, explaining: "We started the game in the right way. Barcelona had success from the three-point line, and this would be a problem if they kept scoring from outside.
"But in the locker room at halftime, we said that we are going to find a window and they are not going to score with the same percentages [which proved to be correct, as Barca finished with 14 of 39 triples made]. And we were able to come back defending, fighting for all the rebounds and without turnovers. And this was the key point: at the end of the game to have a chance to win. We needed to reach the end of the game with a chance. We found this window and we went through this window."
Through the window, and through to the title decider, where Mateo's 'easy' job will see his team face Olympiacos Piraeus in Sunday’s title decider. The easy dream is still alive.