Scariolo: Real Madrid Were 'Two Different Teams' This Season
Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Real Madrid's coach Sergio Scariolo expressed disappointment after the team's elimination from the Liga Endesa playoffs.
- The team failed to win any titles this season, having lost in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey, and EuroLeague.
- Scariolo accepted responsibility, acknowledging significant weaknesses during the season and stating he couldn't fix them.
Real Madrid's basketball coach, Sergio Scariolo, voiced deep disappointment following the team's elimination from the Liga Endesa playoffs by Tenerife. This marks a season without any titles for the Madrid-based club, capping a series of final defeats.
We dominated the regular season of the Spanish Championship and reached the EuroLeague final, the two most important competitions. Of course, the negative point was the loss in the Copa del Rey final, but you have to reach the Copa del Rey final first. You don't get there automatically or easily.
The loss to the Canary Islands team was the final blow for Real Madrid, which had previously fallen short in the finals of the Spanish Super Cup, the Copa del Rey, and the EuroLeague. Scariolo took personal responsibility during the press conference, admitting that the team displayed considerable weaknesses throughout the season.
"We dominated the regular season of the Spanish Championship and reached the EuroLeague final, the two most important competitions," Scariolo stated. "Of course, the negative point was the loss in the Copa del Rey final, but you have to reach the Copa del Rey final first. You don't get there automatically or easily."
From that point on, obviously, the assessment is negative: from the Copa del Rey, from the Final Four until today, our performance has been negative.
He continued, "From that point on, obviously, the assessment is negative: from the Copa del Rey, from the Final Four until today, our performance has been negative." Scariolo reflected on the unpredictable nature of sports, noting how a strong regular season and a second-place European finish could be overshadowed by three consecutive defeats. "Sometimes you manage, almost miraculously, to fix the situation. We did not succeed. And obviously, as a coach, I am the first to recognize that I failed to fix it."
Sometimes you manage, almost miraculously, to fix the situation. We did not succeed. And obviously, as a coach, I am the first to recognize that I failed to fix it.
Regarding his future with the club, Scariolo mentioned, "I have a three-year contract, and this is a question for the club." The team's inability to secure any silverware this season raises questions about the team's direction and Scariolo's tenure.
I have a three-year contract, and this is a question for the club.
Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.