Chus Mateo: I'm so proud of everything we've done in Madrid

Jesus “Chus" Alfonso Mateo Diez is facing a new special season in his personal career: for the first time since july 2014 he will not be sitting on Real Madrid bench. 8 years as assistant to Pablo Laso, then 3 full seasons as the head coach of “los blancos”.

In 2014 it a just a  comeback since between 1995 and 2004 he was working in the spanish capital with junior teams first, then as an assistant coach to Sergio Scariolo, Javier Imbroda and Julio Lamas, before reuniting Scariolo in Malaga from 2004 to 2006.

Real Madrid took the decision to change the coach last june, a decision still to be understood if taken by the old management or the new one. It was more than shocking since it came after 10 finals and 6 titles in 12 competitions, with an historical Euroleague triumph in 2023 coming back from a 0-2 home deficit  versus Partizan.

A career representing Real Madrid, big titles and tough situations until last june

• Last 11 years representing “los blancos” starting from the assistant coach position that gave you 20 titles, then lifting 6 trophies and playing 10 finals out of 12 possible as a head coach. Leaving Valdebebas was obviously not easy and I guess this was a different and somehow weird summer: Chus, which are your feelings after all this? How was your different summer?

«Well it's different since I'm not working on a bench, so I'm waiting for the next step and opportunity. I'm really calm, proud and satisfied by the achievements, but more than titles it's the work we did that makes me very proud. We all know that sometimes a good work does not lead to what you really want to achieve so once it happens it's even much more appreciated. 83,5% as a winning percentage, a true record in Liga ACB, is something I cannot forget. The way we organized and managed our relationship with the team, the reaction we had last year after the tough times we went through, we lost a bunch of games but we came back. Then, more than everything, the fans recognized and appreciated the way we worked and this is something I will always keep with me».

• You got the HC job after a very particular situation regarding Pablo Laso and after three seasons you lost that job in another particular situation, with a Liga trophy in your hands after dominating the regular season and the Playoffs. This sounds like “it can happen only in Real Madrid”…

«Real Madrid is different and unique, you know it… I learned how to live day by day, perfectly knowing which team I was representing and which were the expectations. And these expectations in Real mean just winning. I always tried to be myself respecting the ethic and the values of the club. I can hold my head up  high and I'm proud I never raised my voice for what was happening in the tougher moments. Obviously I'm sorry I could't continue my job, I had another year in my contract, I'm sure we could have keep on winning as we did in the last 3 years but proud is the right word to define the situation».

• I'm curious to know something about the summer of your arrival in 2014. many rumors spread about Pablo Laso's dismissal, the name of Katsikaris strongly appearing in the media, then nothing happened. What about how a staff is living situations like that one?

«I remember very well that summer… I was called by a RM member to substitute another assistant coach and promptly asked Pablo if I could be the right guy for him. Sometimes as a coach as well as a whole coaching staff, things are not so easy, that summer was so difficult but the we worked with a great ethic, Pablo was remarkable in managing the whole situation and we moved from a bad season to the perfect one. Then you know, history was made in the following eight years, the best ones ever for RM basketball».

• In several conversations we had in these years you always underlined how is important to be the same human being on the bench as well as in your daily personal life. So of the sports people show different faces… Do you think this helped you during your career or maybe it was somehow a kind of limit?

«I'd not know ho to be different…I just live as per the principles I was taught when I was a child. Why should I change? Who knows me will find the same Chus on the bench as in my personal life. Sometimes you have to face bigger burdens and responsibilities, you have to understand what you are doing and where you are doing that but you have to be yourself, always. With my players I just tried to be as genuine as i could and I really do not know how to be two different persons, I don't know how do they do that. It would be absurd to be show two different faces, I'm just happy the way I am».

• Last year you started the season with a 13 men roster and so many injuries. More you lost a huge contribute of leadership in the locker room without Rudy, Chacho and Fabien (Causeur). Only in january Dennis Smith and Bruno Fernando were added to the team and the american one left after a few weeks. Do you think that the great effort required to Facu (Campazzo) and Edy (Tavares) during this first 5 months was one of the reason you couldn't make it directly to the EL Playoffs?

«I'd say partially yes. Sure we were not enough for such a demanding season, you know in the most important clubs like Real or Barça you have to be perfect at the beginning of the season as well as in the middle and at the end, there's no time for too much patience. We had major injuries and we needed that time to be back playing as per our style and organisation. But due to those problems and they way we have to face the situation I'm much more proud looking back at what we did in a league like ACB, where we won 30 of the last 31 games. Then we went one shot away from a game 5 in Piraues and you never know what could have happened… Sure we started with 9 L in 15 EL games, that was bad, and we had to react. We were coming from a summer with an excessive change in the roster and that lack of leadership that you mentioned was there. We needed time but in some club that patience is a bit missing , anyway we got better day by day, we came back and we won the ACB losing juts one playoff game for a single shot with Malaga. You know we lost just one game in two playoff years in Spain, 8-0 in 2024 and 8-1 in 2025… Then another situation I'm really proud of is the cat we did not lose at home for more than one year: that record could be fixed by a couple of wins the seasons».

 

 

The new Euroleague format with 20 teams and the teams starting as frontrunners

• Looking at the actual Real Madrid roster with 15 players, a 6 men coaching staff and maybe another guard our 2-3 position to be signed, do you think this is what a contender needs to be competitive all year long especially with the new 20 teams EL format?

«The roster is really competitive, they worked in a clear direction. But I do not want to talk about other people decisions, I do not think it would be ethic. I just think of what is about me».

• Talking about the 20 EL teams, it looks like every year the competitiveness is increasing and making it directly to the Playoffs is getting tougher and tougher. Is it fair to have only 8 teams out of 20 that will play for the title?

«Euroleague is definitely extraordinary and any single team has a clear idea of what they want to achieve. I do not want to discuss whether it's ok or not only 8 teams playing for the title, but sure we should review the number of games since in this competition every night is a fight. Then if we add what is required to the payers with the national squads, you see it's too much».

• Looking at the EL rosters do you agree there are 6 teams (Oly, Pana, Fener, Monaco, Real and Efes) starting one step ahead in the Playoff race?

«Sure the 6 teams you mentioned have large and quality rosters, they have everything to compete at the highest level, but as I learned in EL basketball there's nothing difficult as a preview on what could happen. So, yes, there are frontrunners but we cannot count out any team».

• With the number of games increasing to 38, do we run the risk that “not every game matters”? I mean, maybe some team will have to accept to give up some game particularly during the 10 double week…

«The problem is that due to to high competitive level of every game, it's almost impossible to make a kind of choice. You cannot run the risk of leaving some game because otherwise you could be in the Play-In or even out of the first ten in the standings. The difference between the first and the last is so small in EL, very different to what happens in NBA».

• If it's true that the young players are leaving Europe even if they did not play a single minute in EL, it happened during this summer that a good number of excellent NBA players signed for EL teams. Is this just a coincidence or it could be the start of a new trend?

«I think it will be a trend in both directions. Young europeans moving to the States for the reasons we all actually know and many NBA players attracted by the high level of Euroleague».

• And with all this talented players as for example Lonnie Walker, Brandon Boston, Trey Lyles, Chuma Okeke, Miles Norris, Cole Swider, Shake Milton, Devonte' Graham, Jeff Dowtin, O'shae Brissett and many others, do you think we 'll go in the direction of an offensive oriented league?

«No, I feel like we will have different styles and every coach will manage his team starting from his principles. It will be fun to watch different basketball philosophies battling every night. Every single coach will mark which kind of ball will be played».

• Is there a team that you will follow with bigger attention in the upcoming EL season and why?

«I will follow any single game since I do like  a lot this competition, I love the game and EL is so special. Last year Paris was the team to watch and at the end of the season they showed it was not only a nice basketball to watch, they were effective too. If there will be a team like them, sure I will not miss a single possession».

• Same question but I'm now asking you to mention a player who could draw your attention…Ok, I want to be honest, tell me what do you think of Tyson Carter, a guy that I'm so curious to see in the EL nights…

«It's true that Tyson Carter was a great headache to face, he played phenomenal games when facing Real Madrid, I cannot forget those moments. He will be for sure a player to follow in EL and I think that the most important for him will be to be consistent daily, trying to reduce any possible ups and downs. He has a tremendous quality, he has the right skills and I'm sure he will have an outstanding season. More, don't forget he is a smart guy: at the beginning of his spanish adventure it looked like he was not adapting in the best way but then he did everything he needed to become the player he is now».

The spanish national teams and the future as a Coach

• Let's talk about “la familia”, the Spanish national team. A disappointing Eurobasket after  outstanding and longlasting glory days, it looks like it's time to start a new era where the biggest mistake could be to keep on making comparisons with the era of the Gasaol, Chacho, Rudy etc… I was impressed by De Larrea and Saint-Supery but actually it's time for work, balance and patience…

«I agree with you, it was an outstanding generation that took spanish ball to the highest possible levels. The only medal missing was the Olympic gold but we all know how difficult it was. We couldn't ask more to these players. Now we need to be patient and it's time to give all these players what they need to be the best version of themselves. But you know…  spanish players are special, they never give up and they want to be as competitive as they can, so…»

• Last one, a bit personal… Most of the people talking about Chus Mateo agree that we are talking about a real gentleman and a very special human being. In that list the first names are Walter Tavares and Sergio Llull who recently spent great words on you. Moving the the technical side of your job, is there something you want to work on to improve your skills a a coach?

«On a personal side I feel like as a Coach you have to create motivation and manage your team in the direction of what is the request and the ambition of the club. You have to do it with your style and you have to be aware that sometimes the strategies work, sometimes it does not happen but you have to keep on working. You need to show to your people that there's not single day when you do not try to improve. I'm really open to many new things, I always feel like I have to improve and that happens only with you daily work ethic».

This is purely Chus Mateo, as simple as any human being can be: a true love of the game and a well deserved sense of pride.