Messina: I’m enjoying every single minute of the Final Four

Bringing Italian basketball and Milan back to the Final Four

“For us, you can imagine it’s an amazing joy. For our owner, for Mr. Armani’s family, they’ve been supporting this club financially, emotionally they’ve been a tremendous owner for this club and for our fans of course. As for Italian basketball, just like any country in Europe, your fans are happy when you win. And those who aren’t fans are happy when you lose. I know it’s a time of good faith, but there will be people who are rooting for us and those who are not rooting for us. If we do well, like we’ve been doing; and the national team does well and if other clubs step up it will be very important to attract other investors in our wonderful sport. And that would be very important for not just Italy, but all of Europe.”

On his players at their first Final Four

“To play in a first Final Four is never easy for anybody. In this regard, our veterans will for sure be helpful to those who are here for the first time. They will talk, they will lead them by example, and they will make sure they feel comfortable before the game and during the game. And then nobody knows what any of us has going on inside. For sure, focusing on the small things like everybody has said will probably help the players to play better.

“I feel that every Final Four is different. Being able many times, you know the routines a little bit, you don’t get lost looking around like Coach Saras said before, which is what happens to you the first time. Everything looks like Disneyworld to you. It helps you focus a little bit more on the things you have to do. I am sure that having players with that experience, the added value is that they can help those who are here for the first time. Because I think that, many times, the first time is the most complicated one.”

The difference between winning with Virtus and CSKA and the Final Four with Milan

“Of course to be able to compete in a Final Four with a team from your country is important, but I always remember playing the Final Four with CSKA, which represents the whole country too, was a special and a unique experience. The main difference that I feel is that when we competed with Virtus and CSKA, we were always the favorite. And we had amazing expectations. When we went with Benetton and now with Milan, probably there are a lot of people who do not expect us to win. Since we all have weaknesses, it makes you feel a little bit better.”

On the pressure of winning with Milan

“I don’t believe that anyone in the club feels this type of pressure, for two reasons. One, we are not responsible for what the club did before, so we cannot take that responsibility for the last 29 years. And second, I believe we had a magnificent season even though we put together a very serious, very competitive team, with leading players and hungry, young players. But in the end, you find yourself here, with these fantastic teams and we have to be very happy about it. For me, the most important thing is that the club remains competitive in the future because it doesn’t make any sense to be in the playoffs for one year and then disappear for 10 years. What we will do next season, and the next, and the one after that, will be very important because if you make it to the playoffs every time, sometimes you make it to the Final Four. And if you are in the Final Four twice, 3-4 times, you can win once. I don’t think we have to think that we have to do anything fast, because it doesn’t make any sense.”

On entering the Final Four as an underdog

“It’s a great experience. It’s really fun and I’m really enjoying this Final Four a lot. Regardless of the outcome. Because personally, I put a lot of value in what we did as a group, as a team, as a club in just being here. Honestly, I have never enjoyed a game throughout my life – whether we won or lost. But to be here in this situation, it’s really rewarding. I’m enjoying every single minute from when I wake up to practice and even here. You never know, this might be my last press conference at a Final Four. I want to enjoy every second of it. What will happen afterward, we will see.”

On Milan’s shooting struggles this season vs Barcelona

“You reminded me of two painful losses. What do you want me to tell you? That we will shoot better? I hope. But we don’t know. Seriously speaking, when you play such amazing defense, so well organized, so well executed by the players, we know we’re going to shoot bad shots. That’s part of the game. We’re going to have a number of bad shots. We have to limit the number of bad shots and we have to get some offensive rebounds and limit the turnovers. But that’s in the handbook of being a coach. Everybody knows that. Hopefully, we will be able to do that.”