Pablo Laso and Felipe Reyes analyzed the decisive game against Khimki (Thursday, 8:45pm CEST). The coach summed up the importance of the match: “It's a final. In a group as competitive as this has been, every game has been one and we get to the last day and we have another final. Khimki have a small advantage because if they win they have qualified and we depend on other results. We're aware that we have to do our job, which is to win and we know that it's a big game”.

“They beat us in the two games of the group phase. They have real quality players and a lot of the highest level exteriors. They are a Final Four side and they've demonstrated it during the season. I've considered Khinki as favorites since the first day and coincidentally the two teams are playing on the final day for a place in the quarters. We have a lot of respect for them”.

Physical state of the team
“We've got Ndour stopped with a problem in the tibia and we're going to see how he is. Willy has been joining the team bit by bit and during the weekend he was able to do things and he's more or less ok. We've got more doubts over Nocioni. The sprain that he picked up in Vitoria was serious and he couldn't play in Murcia. We'll not know the 12 players that we'll have available until the last moment”.

Refereeing
“I try to not worry about that. I hope we get the best refereeing possible. The only thing I'm thinking about is putting in a great performance, winning and that the other circumstances help us qualify”.

LASO: "WE MUST CONCENTRATE ON WINNING OURSELVES AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS LATER”.
“We go in to it with options, depending on other results. We knew that it would be normal, going in to the last round with all the teams playing for something, due to the difficulty of the group. The only team who will be able to play comfortably is Zalgiris".

The team with the most technical fouls and unsporting fouls in the Euroleague
“This fact is also by a big difference over the rest. It surprises me a lot but I'm not thinking about that”.

Palacio Factor
“It's a big day and the fans are always with us. We know there'll be a great atmosphere. It's a final, an early one that's not got that name but, within the group it is. We've got maximum confidence in our fans. They help us a lot and we feel comfortable in the Palacio”.

Reyes: “It's the game of the year for us”
"We're really looking forward to it, motivated. We're playing at home and we'll have the support of the fans behind us as if it were a final, which is what it is. It is going to be difficult but we've got to show that we are a team of champions, the team who won the Euroleague last year. You have to show it in games like this”.

Mentally prepared​
“This team is made up of winners, we don't conform and we want to continue to show Europe that we are ambitious and we want more. We have to play a complete game and to not relax. I think that the pressure of a game like this and a final is the same, it's always very high. It's the game of the year for us and it's important that we continue alive in this competition”.