Sarunas Jasikevicius has analyzed the state of Barcelona ahead of the Final Four that they play this week and that faces Real Madrid in the semifinals. «The team is going to be prepared and eager, we are already thinking about the rival and ourselves. We already know our opponent a lot, we’ve played a lot with them and it will be difficult to surprise”, explained the Barça coach, who is very clear about where the key will be: “The key is not to give anything away. In games with them, if there has been a high score, it is because we have given things away. Everyone trained today except Sergi Martínez, who has a cold. Cory Higgins is going to play because his experience is very important.
It is clear that it does not reach one hundred percent. But we have all the players.”
The coach recalled his experience in the Final Four that he played while on the court. «I have always said that I went a week without sleeping a week before my first Final Four. You have to go through it. Now I sleep much better, that’s why we have an experienced team and it’s time for those with more experience. Sometimes it is not easy to control those emotions”, he pointed out and referred to the first rival, Real Madrid, whom they have dominated throughout this season: “We have won the last games and this is against us because Madrid will have very hungry against us. They arrive at the best moment of the season and they are playing very well and moving the ball very well. They have veteran players with experience and they know what to do. It’s a Final Four and it has to be difficult.”
The Lithuanian does not want to talk about favorites and rules out being the best candidate to win the title. “Whether we are favorites or not, we are 80 minutes from the title and we have to win the first game to give ourselves another chance. Because Madrid is also 80 minutes from the title and they believe it like the rest of the teams. They all have the same pressure as us. They are all very close. If we have won or lost 20 times against Madrid it is worth nothing, this will be a new game and it starts from scratch », he assured. Finally, he wanted to take the pressure off Mirotic and assured that the team does not depend on him: «We need everyone and we have shown that we do not depend on a player like Nico even if he is the best in Europe. We hope that Nico is fine but if he is not, that he is human, others have to step forward ».
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