Munich / Madrid (dpa) – Andrea Trinchieri wanted to really enjoy the moment. “Don’t wake me up!” Joked the coach of the Bayern basketball team when he was recently asked about the short but impressive winning streak in the Euroleague.
After four successes, Munich will travel to Real Madrid this week as leaders of the European elite league. The former Euroleague champion does not instill fear in the form-strong Munich team. “We know how we can win the games and that we have the quality against any team,” said captain Nihad Djedovic.
These are completely new tones at Bayern, who were still the second worst team in the top continental competition in the 2019/20 season, which was canceled due to Corona. The fact that the Munich team are currently leading the table after five of 34 main round games is extraordinary for German teams, which at the end of the preliminary round were never among the top eight in Europe.
“That is very gratifying and is doing our sport very well, especially in these times of the Corona,” said Stefan Holz, Managing Director of the Basketball Bundesliga. “In the past few years we have made big steps forward compared to other European countries in terms of audience numbers, media attention or budgets. Now it is time to draw attention to ourselves in terms of sport.”
Above all, the signing of coach Trinchieri and a significant restructuring of the squad have turned the losing team into a top squad, at least for the time being. And this is called for like hardly any other German team. In addition to the XXL schedule in the Euroleague, including extensive air travel across the continent, the Munich team recently had to play the games in the national cup – on Sunday and Monday even twice within a good 24 hours. After a previous defeat against medi Bayreuth, they have to worry about qualifying for the Final Four.
The basket hunters from the Isar don’t have time to struggle before their trip to the Spanish capital. The euphoria of victory should outweigh the exertions before the match on Thursday (9 p.m. / Magentasport). “It’s not a matter of self-confidence,” said national player Paul Zipser. “We’re going there to win the game.”
Led by Bayern’s record player Djedovic, top scorer Vladimir Lucic and newcomer Wade Baldwin, the Munich team are stirring up basketball Europe – at least in the start phase of this Corona season. Away wins at the former Euroleague champions Maccabi Tel Aviv and Fenerbahce Istanbul was followed by a home win against Olympiacos. “We feel like the chemistry is there when we hit the pitch,” said Center Malcolm Thomas. “You can see that in our series in the Euroleague. Hopefully we will continue there.”
Unlike in many games in previous years, the Munich team currently manage to stay focused and dangerous until the end. “Being there for 40 minutes, being present for 40 minutes”, according to Djedovic, that is the recipe for success. Playmaker Baldwin said: “We play well and very well. The coaches do a tremendous job.”
The demanding coach Trinchieri likes how his protégés fight for every ball. That might also be necessary in Madrid; because even if Real started the season disappointingly with just one win out of five games, the Madrilenians around the veterans Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Llull remain dangerous. “Traveling to Spain is always difficult,” said winger Zipser at Magentasport. There were no major concerns in his voice.
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