Ettore Messina was the surprise guest in “Uomini e Canestri,” Luca Chiabotti’s basketball column on Repubblica-Milano. Here’s what he had to say about Olimpia Milano’s European season, marking the third consecutive year outside the EuroLeague postseason.
ON THE CURRENT MOMENT
“The team has no longer been sharp—physically or mentally. There were games we could and should have won, even in a weakened state. We didn’t, so criticism is fair, and we’re rightly disappointed. That said, we’ve always used the period leading into the Italian playoffs wisely—playing just once a week—to recover and get players back into the best possible condition to compete.”
ON SEASON CHALLENGES
“It wasn’t just the injuries. Mirotic and LeDay don’t complain, but one’s been dealing with a knee issue, the other with a shoulder problem. They’ve often trained separately, and less with the team, because they were the most overused throughout the season. And Mannion didn’t miss a single game—his workload became heavier due to Dimitrijevic’s physical problems.”
ON NEBO
“It may sound obvious, but having Nebo on the floor benefits the whole team. A big man who rolls aggressively to the basket forces defenses to collapse and creates an extra meter of space for his teammates. We tried to compensate for his absence with the chemistry and skill of Mirotic and LeDay playing together, but over time, opponents found ways to adjust.”
ON THE CRITICISM
“There’s a part of the fanbase that’s unhappy and they make it known—sometimes going overboard. Then there’s the world of social media, which I frankly don’t follow because it seems like there’s no peace for anyone there. But there are also many people who are extremely supportive of me and the team, who understand what we’re going through, and continue to stand by us—like those who came out to Bologna and Reggio.”
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