Pedro Martínez relishes three wins in four close finishes with Real Madrid

Pedro Martínez focused on one figure after Real Madrid’s 89-87 victory over Unicaja on Sunday in his Movistar Arena debut: his team have won three of their four close games this season. “Normally, you are around 50%,” the coach said, pleased that his side had managed to turn a difficult, evenly balanced contest in their favour this time.

The coach described a game with good spells for both teams and fluctuations from Madrid. He felt Real had not finished well in Dubai the other day, but had managed to turn the situation around this time. Martínez called for the team’s achievements to be appreciated while also giving credit to their opponents, in what he described as a very difficult league and a very demanding EuroLeague. He also highlighted the enormous effort made by the players.

Despite the result, the coach did not hide that he would have liked a better performance. In his view, the closing stages were not about tactics, but about mentality, will and the ability to fight until the end. He praised the mental strength of a group he felt was slightly short of energy but capable of responding when the situation became difficult in the final minutes.

Martínez said wins and losses were inevitable, while regretting that defeats sometimes receive more attention than victories. He referred to the first Super Cup game, won in overtime, followed by a final decided in the last minute, before returning to that record of three wins in four close games. He also welcomed the very positive backing from the Palacio crowd, which he considered valuable in the toughest moments.

The coach underlined the importance of winning at the Movistar Arena and praised the performances of Maledon, Campazzo, Luwawu-Cabarrot and Tavares, as well as his team’s ability to win tight finishes. However, he asked for patience with a squad still getting to know one another. The staff are being demanding, he explained, but the players need to adapt and gradually absorb concepts, with an improvement mindset from September.

Real Madrid finished 6 of 23 from three-point range, or 26%. Martínez nevertheless encouraged his players to keep shooting, believing basketball is deeply linked to mentality: lowering one’s head after missed shots can, in his view, make the team play worse. He acknowledged that such percentages were not normal, while urging the group to believe in its players.

Finally, Martínez said Jantunen, who took a blow to his hip against Dubai, and Nick Smith Jr., the latest signing who arrived with discomfort, should soon rejoin the group. Medical staff believed Jantunen could have played on Sunday, but the coach felt that would not have been consistent; his progress will be monitored. It is not a serious injury, Martínez specified. In the player’s case, the risk of a serious injury if he had been rushed led the club not to force him; the coach said that process was nearing its end and that the player would gradually enter the team’s rhythm.