With the third star pinned on the red vest and two consecutive championships behind him, Milan launches into the playoffs determined to achieve the feat that no one has achieved since 2011 of the fifth in line Mens Sana (without considering subsequent revocations). The objective is to revive the memories of Dan Peterson’s Olimpia: the year of grace and the 1987 Grand Slam. The leader Ettore Messina chases the Italian Settebello, which would achieve 13 national titles with the 6 of Russia. But the playoffs are set to be more interesting than ever and probably balanced. We talk about it with the coach who is already in the Fiba Hall of Fame.
Olimpia Milano between Playoffs and certainties
Messina, tell us, how does Olimpia present itself in the Playoffs?
«With the optimism of those who want to end a difficult season well, dotted with difficulties and injuries, with the determination to focus on the team’s ability to compete at the level of highly prepared opponents and the awareness of the fact that the news is there when whoever wins then loses, as happened to the Golden State Warriors, in the past to the Boston Celtics to give two examples”.
And with what certainties?
«That defending strong and sharing the ball in attack are the keys to winning, as we have done on many occasions in the championship, but also in the Euroleague. In Serie A after a start of 5 wins and 5 defeats, we had a record of 17-3.”.
The evolution of the championship
Has the level of the championship risen as many say?
«The fact that Virtus Bologna and Milan lost 8 matches, the highest number in recent years – even with the complicity of the double commitment in the Euroleague – shows that in Serie A no match is a given, especially away. Then every year excellent players arrive and the teams are coached by very good and prepared coaches”.
By the way, this year the number of foreign coaches has increased.
«Although I have been collaborating with Fip and Cna for years, I would not make it a category-based discussion, because if prepared coaches arrive in Italy, with qualifications and skills, the comparison is important and positive and the quality expressed on the pitch is high. Just like when our technicians go abroad and demonstrate the quality of the school”.ù
“We need to concentrate”: the discontinuity in performance is not a concern
Returning to Serie A level, many clubs said this season that Milan and Virtus were the driving force.
«But in the past there had been negative opinions on the duopoly, so I am pleased that you have collected these opinions. I believe that the two clubs have given a lot to the movement, in terms of visibility abroad and, for example, bringing very important players back to Italy. Data in hand, the top championship of Brescia and other clubs is a wonderful positive indicator. Because it must be said and reiterated: no one likes participating in a discounted championship”.
Let’s move the analysis to Milan: the obvious fact is the repeated discontinuity in performance in general. And even within the span of a single match.
«We know it, it is at the center of our daily analysis and work in the gym».
And have you identified the reasons? Because in a fluctuating Euroleague season you beat Real Madrid, Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, Monaco, Barcelona twice.
«Now is not the time, now we must all concentrate on doing the fundamental things as best we can to implement what we have shown we can do. Even if we have to watch the Final Four on TV with three teams we beat during the season”.
Disappointment Pangos, the new talents of the Next Gen and the evolution of basketball
Speaking of analysis: the Pangos case, out in the 2023 playoffs, confirmed and then unable to return to the levels of a few years ago.
«I absolutely don’t want to go back to Pangos. I am disappointed”.
An important reason to smile: the youth sector, starting with the Italian Under 19 champions who are preparing to play in the Euroleague Next Gen finals. A signal for movement.
«The fact that 4 Serie A teams reached the semi-finals is not a coincidence. And there is a fact: since Legabasket introduced the Next Gen Cup, the clubs’ commitment to the youth sector has increased. I have always said that the top must guide the movement. It was a very nice thing to see the kids grow with the work of the technicians. And our recruiting efforts are becoming local. Just as it is very nice and makes you proud to know that from the national A team up to the youth teams, Milan is the club that gives the most elements to the blue shirt”.
Let’s go back to his beginnings as a head coach. How has basketball changed in these 34 years?
“It would take time”.
Choose the main aspect.
«Then I say the athleticism of the players, which affects everything, spaces, speed of execution..»
“Sinner is a perfect example for kids”
She is a passionate practicing tennis player. About her Her impressions on Sinner.
«I am very admired by the technical and physical improvements. But the aspect that strikes me even more is the calm of this boy at all times on and off the pitch: victories, defeats, commitments, declarations. Indeed, for what he says and how he is, he is a perfect example for young people.”.
Will you go to Paris to see the Games?
“No, this year I won’t go to Paris even though I am an avid spectator of the Games and I won’t forget having seen the final up close in the stadium.”
The enthusiasm of the fans hides the fatigue
First we talked about the calendar. How much does double commitment have an impact?
«Even more than physically, on the expenditure of nervous energy. This is what causes the ups and downs. We need to reset to regain strength after the big matches”.
And how tiring is your double commitment as coach and president of the technical area?
«In my opinion he was misunderstanding. If he were in charge of the technical area, no one would say anything. But it’s my role. The company is growing with a complete organization. There are trained managers like Stavropoulos and Vacirca who have the competence, the ability and carry out the work. Conversely, the technical area is my responsibility. It’s not like I have to put on and take off a hat. And I did this work in Bologna and Moscow, I didn’t do it in Treviso because there is the excellent Gherardini”.
A result of the organization and the quality achieved is the Forum always full of spectators.
«It’s very nice to be followed by the city, having brought it back to the Forum. An award for the efforts of Mr. Armani, of the property. Even thinking about when up to 5 years old we sometimes exited in the first round of the Euroleague, or didn’t reach the finals. But we want to grow”.
