Sergio Rodriguez: “Here in Milan I immediately felt a special feeling with the fans”

It’s Chacho night in the EuroLeague: Sergio Rodriguez spoke at a press conference less than an hour before Olimpia Milano and Real Madrid take to the court to be inducted into the red-and-white club’s Hall of Fame. These are his words.

On this special night: “I’m very happy, since the first day I’ve felt a great relationship with the fans and the whole environment, I’m going to enjoy this special moment with my family”.

On being inducted into Olimpia’s Hall of Fame: ‘It’s a great honour, when I arrived here I knew the history of the club and all the great players who have been here and won so much. To be part of this group is an incredible honour”.

The best and most difficult moment at Olimpia Milano: “The most difficult moment was when Covid arrived, we didn’t really know what to expect. From a personal point of view, the best moment was the birth of my third child here in Milan. From a sporting point of view, I like to remember winning the Scudetto here at home, then the cups, the ride in the EuroLeague with reaching the Final Four… But it was wonderful living here in Milan every day, as I said before, I felt a special feeling with all the people here”.

On the memory of the EuroLeague Final Four with Milan: ‘What we have done in this club since 2019 is incredible: the path is marked. Great players want to come to Milan, we won three championships, we got to the Final Four and that was a great achievement, then that event is influenced by how you get there, injuries… Everyone works to get there, when you get there the goal is achieved, then winning or not winning is a matter of luck. With Milan, we lost a semi-final in the last second, but the club is ready”.

On Milan’s roster: “I think the team is very good, there are great players in every position. I see a lot of potential, some players are in their first year here or their first year in the EuroLeague, but the coaches know how to do it. At this moment it is important to stay stable and solid, the talent is there. We have to overcome this moment to keep the rudder straight because the potential is there. Of course the formula is terrible and there are many great teams, but the potential is there”.

On the special feeling with Milan: ‘In my career I have been lucky to play in so many places and help the team win. I was respected, appreciated and happy everywhere I went, but the feeling I had with this crowd was different, special”.

On the difference between “his” Olimpia and the next one: “In the other years, a lot of experienced players arrived who were ready to win. Even in the last few years, when things did not seem to be going well, they managed to work every day to compete until the end, winning three consecutive championships. When you have to change, there are situations where you can make a mistake, but the important thing is to keep working as you have done in these years”.

On his new life: “I’m doing things I didn’t know I could do: I’m free on Saturdays and Sundays. Now I don’t miss the games, I’ll probably start missing them later. I love basketball, in the EuroLeague double rounds I always want to see the games, with four children it is not easy, but my future path will still be linked to basketball”.