Olimpia Milano, Ettore Messina controversial with Virtus Bologna fans

“I’m not boiled,” said Ettore Messina.

Olimpia Milano coach Ettore Messina, responded in kind to those who label him as ‘boiled,’ especially Virtus Bologna fans. “Already boiled, as they say in Bologna. Scudetto and Coppa Italia, our beautiful 2022 pairing seems like stuff from another century. But then even now without Pangos, Shields and Datome we are second in Italy and behind in Europe, true, however alive. We will come back to play together, and there we will do ours,” the coach of the meneghini said in an interview granted to ‘La Repubblica’ Bologna edition.

“On a sporting level I like it, good rivalries are good for everyone and two Italian teams in the Euroleague is an outcome to be happy about. On a personal level it causes me bitterness, because in Bologna rumors have been allowed to run rampant about a power I don’t have, such as stopping the championships for Covid, and a climate of hatred has been generated that I never thought I deserved, after 20 wonderful years, professional and otherwise, in that club and in that city,” Messina continued, giving his take on the rivalry between the two clubs with the most history on the Italian scene, which will face each other in the championship on Jan. 2.

“I care about the agreement I have, until the end of next season. We’re coming off a championship we won, we’re trying to win another one, the third star, and get back to a Final Four. Some people say, I go on as long as I have fun. And he has fun if he wins. I would correct it this way: I’ll keep going as long as I enjoy being part of a group that bangs. This year’s team is struggling to put itself together however it is the number one defense in the cup and in the league. It has value to me and for that I am grateful,” concluded the former coach of the Black Vu’s between 1997 and 2002.