Sergio Scariolo addressed the growing concerns around EuroLeague scheduling, pointing to fixture congestion, postponements and neutral venues as structural issues affecting competitive balance and player workload this season.
On EuroLeague scheduling
«First of all, we welcome the return of our juniors, who have had moments of concern for themselves and their families. Thinking about anticipating the unforeseen seems like a contradiction in itself. The original error is having such a tight schedule. You cannot predict wars. There are much more serious and painful problems linked to wars than a basketball competition.»
On the need to reduce the number of games
«Within our competition’s microcosm, with so little room to recover games, that is the error. An expansion of the participating teams must necessarily go hand in hand with a reduction in the number of games. Everyone has agreed on this. Probably, from what I know and hear, that is the path being taken. But we are in a slightly worse season. With all this accumulation, and also the added problem that these postponements, neutral courts and these clearly unfair situations are occurring.»
On the importance of finishing in the top four
«It is very important. We have players who come from other experiences, from different places. Everyone recognizes the very high level of the best EuroLeague ever. It is an objective assessment, not just because of the level of the opponents, but also because of the wear and tear that the intensity of the competition entails.»
On the opponent Virtus Bologna
«We want to maintain this evolution against a very athletic rival, extremely physical and with great capacity to attack the paint. We have to be able to distinguish when we want to be aggressive and when we have to protect our paint, avoiding penetrations, cuts, fast breaks and offensive rebounds.»
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