Jasikevicius: "We have taken a step forward as a team"

"We have been clearly better, but we have to kill these games"

BARCELONA, 13 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The coach of Barça, Sarunas Jasikevicius, highlighted this Thursday the victory of the azulgranas against Real Madrid (75-73) in the Euroleague, which allows them "to take a step forward as a team", something "more important" than "adding points ".

"We have taken a step forward as a team, it is a game to learn a lot about how good we can be playing like this and how not to lose concentration at the end", explained the coach in the press conference after the Clásico.

In this line, 'Saras' recognized the difficulty of the victory. "The last few hours we have been through a war. We have a lot of new players and improving is even more important than a point. We have been very solid," he said.

"The most important thing is to stay with the image of the first 30 minutes. We were tired. Mistakes are paid dearly and we have stopped playing a bit, so we have looked at the clock instead of killing the game, the worst you can do," he added.

On the board of Chus Mateo, who did not line up neither Tavares nor Poirier in his starting five, Jasikevicius explained that it is "difficult" to surprise between the two teams. "With so many Clásicos that we play, it's very difficult. They tried with two '4's to open the field. You always try, but it costs a lot", he recalled about the second duel between Real Madrid and Barça this season.

However, in the final minutes, the white team came close to leveling the score. "The boys have really enjoyed the first half hour of the game, also at home and against a good rival. We have to be very happy, we have been clearly better, but it is much better to be 'killers' and we have to kill these games. If not you kill it, it reappears and that's exactly what happened," he said.

One of the greatest achievements in the victory happens to annul Walter Tavares. "It's always the same plan. In my third year here we are defending in a very similar way to Madrid, we are not changing much. They know how we defend. Against such good teams you have to know what you can give away. We have been very solid and they they have not been comfortable", settled.

Finally, the Lithuanian coach also spoke about the situation of Xavi Hernández's Barça team in the Champions League. "It was a very bad night. I agree with Xavi, in the end what matters are results. He has had bad luck with injuries, but he is a very tough stick, I hope they can show this football before injuries", he concluded.