Ettore Messina, appeal to Olimpia Milano fans.
The words of Ettore Messina
L'Olimpia is in a difficult situation, with many absences at the very time when the schedule è most è tight. However, the team must show extreme pride to try to overcome Bayern Munich, as è they managed to do last week against Baskonia.
Despite the difficulties, Olimpia has always produced generous contests, trying to find where possible the necessary resources to compensate for the lack of scorers and shooters. Against Baskonia, the Melli-Voigtmann pair scored the 40 points needed for victory, while in Piraeus it was Flaccadori, Tonut and Bortolani who gave the team a chance to win an improbable game. However, to overcome Bayern, the team will have to once again show such performances. Bayern, in fact, has overcome its physical issues by recovering all the players who had physical problems in the match played in Germany in December.
The team led by Pablo Laso comes to the challenge with a bit of bitterness in its mouth, after having to succumb in the final stages in Bologna, despite having commanded the game for a good 35 minutes. Both teams, in fact, had some regrets in the first round of the week and want to redeem themselves. Olimpia Milan, in particular, seeks revenge after the Munich game they lost in overtime, a game they had virtually won before being caught up by Bayern with a sensational three-point basket by Serge Ibaka. The absentee list has no changes from the Athens game, but there's a possibility that Pippo Ricci, who was on the bench but not usable in Greece, could be employed this time.
Ettore Messina spoke this way on the eve: "Bayern è a physical, athletic team with excellent shooters and very strong in rebounding. We remain in emergency so, as already happened against Baskonia, we also count on the public’s contribution. The boys are giving everything to overcome the difficulties’of the moment, the tiredness, they are playing with great heart and they deserve once again that support of our people that has never been lacking. We need another proud and attentive performance, while we remain patiently waiting to recover the injured.