Real Madrid coach Pedro Martínez: “We need to improve” after worst EuroLeague start in club history

Pedro Martínez: “Two different halves”

Real Madrid head coach Pedro Martínez expressed his disappointment with his team’s performance in the 102-98 defeat against Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv. The coach was particularly critical of the first half, while acknowledging his players’ reaction after the break.

“Two different halves. In the first half, we had poor defense and, as a result, our offense was slow, with no rhythm or ball movement. It was very bad. In the second half, we played with more aggression and came back, even though Hapoel are a very experienced team. We even managed to take a one-point lead,” Martínez said.

“The substitutions didn’t work”

Real Madrid produced an impressive third quarter to erase much of the deficit they had faced at halftime. However, the team’s rotations failed to make the desired impact down the stretch.

“At that point, we needed to rotate, but the substitutions didn’t work. In the final minute, they played intelligently, got to the free-throw line and won the game,” the coach added during his postgame press conference.

Real Madrid’s worst EuroLeague start ever

Asked which aspects of his experience with Valencia Basket last season he could bring to his current team, Martínez urged his players to focus on the present. Real Madrid have opened their EuroLeague campaign with three consecutive defeats, marking the worst start in the club’s history in the competition.

“There’s little point in thinking about the past. We are in a different reality now. Everything is different. We need to work together, with the mindset of improving, and we need time to do better.”

The coach also emphasized the importance of daily work and collective responsibility, insisting that the team must avoid making excuses or looking for someone to blame.

“This comes down to our day-to-day work, our mentality and understanding that the situation is not easy. But that’s not all. We need to stop making excuses and looking for someone to blame. We are a team in good times and bad times. We need to improve,” Martínez concluded.