FCBARCELONA.CAT

11.11.2009 23:50

Getting better

Sònia de Alba

For the Barça players, it was important to beat Asvel and show how the team is getting stronger and more mature.

Coach Xavi Pascual and his players were delighted with the win (76-62) and with the sense that they had done everything they could and been rewarded for it.

Xavi Pascual, coach of Regal FC Barcelona

“We had two targets, to improve defensive rebounds, as we did, and to lose fewer balls, which we also did.”

“We also faced a side that was trying to ease the pressure by saying Barça is the best team in Europe and that it’s almost impossible to win at the Palau. That ¡s why Asvel played their best game to date.”

“ It was an important win because we did it under difficult conditions, having made mistakes, but we turned it around to get the win. That was out fourth win in the Euroleague and at home. Until now they have been big wins, playing simple and sometimes excellent basketball.”

“I am very happy that the results are coming. Against Zalgiris, Cajasol and today these wins really help us improve because they were in difficult situations with some players missing. I got good vibes, they have shown this a great team and we can do it.”

Boniface Ndong

“We learned that every opponent must be taken seriously and we can lose to anybody.”

Fran Vázquez

“We had said Asvel would be aggressive and hard to beat. And they were and the gap didn’t open until the last 5 minutes.”

“We worked hard for the win.”

“We always respect the opposition.”

“We can play better or worse but should never lose our nerve. It was nice to play like that today and that should gain us confidence.”

Roger Grimau

“In games like this and the one with Cajasol you learn to play mature. That’s good, because we won’t always win easily by 20 points. We also have to know how to win trickier games.”