Peppe Poeta, head coach of Olimpia Milano, spoke to Domani in an interview conducted by Giorgio Burreddu on the eve of the Italian Super Cup.
On the Super Cup against Virtus Bologna and the team’s goal.
“The truth is that we are a little behind in terms of conditioning. But it’s a trophy and we want to lift it.”
In September, does winning matter more or understanding the team?
“It will be a step toward a very demanding season. But obviously, winning is better than losing. We have had three team practices, the national team players joined us on September 9, and we have eight new players. The important thing is to play with enthusiasm. It’s contagious and it helps you in difficult moments.”
On the treble won last season.
“The moment when I felt the connection was when we won the Italian Cup. We were coming off a difficult period. We came together, reacted, and brought home the Italian Cup under the pressure of having to win. Then we had three or four months at a high level, finishing with excellent playoffs.”
Is winning easy when you are at Armani?
“The truth is that it’s not like that at all. Real Madrid was the favorite for the title in Spain and lost, Monaco was the favorite in Germany and lost. Winning is never easy. Even when you are the favorite.”
On the upcoming season.
“My first two years as a head coach have gone beyond even the most optimistic expectations, both in Brescia and last year. So I hope to experience a fun and competitive season and try to compete in the EuroLeague to excite our fans. The schedule? It’s crazy. It’s an issue everyone talks about, but in the end no one takes responsibility. For the players, it’s an enormous workload.”
The EuroLeague remains the main goal.
“It’s clear that the EuroLeague is everyone’s dream: mine, the ownership’s, the fans’. Making the playoffs is a dream. But you have to be aware. There are six or seven teams at an extremely high level. You have to have a season that is as close to perfect as possible.”
On NBA Europe and the future of Italian basketball.
“It will be essential to have facilities that are accessible and that do justice to the event. It must not just be a basketball game, it has to be a complete event. So arenas, experience, accessibility. And working on the fanbase. Going into schools, expanding the base, educating the fanbase. And then you have to enhance the product: content, personalities, storytelling. These are the three main values that the League is already working on very well.”
How is the Italian league doing?
“It is returning to being among the most important in Europe. Olimpia and Virtus deserve credit as well, because for many years they have helped drive the movement. Tortona, Venezia, the two Rome teams, Napoli, Varese — many teams have raised the bar. And Rome has returned to being caput mundi in basketball. There is also this appeal linked to the NBA Europe project and I hope Rome can be part of it. But I also want to say a word in favor of the fans of Cremona and Brescia, two important cities in my career. I hope that basketball will soon once again be the main attraction in two cities with such a great passion for the sport.”
On his relationship with Ettore Messina.
“I will always be grateful to him. He is the coach who believed in me even before I believed in myself as a coach. He has done so much for this club and I learned a lot from him. Given his experience in the USA, I wish him all the best.”
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