Olimpia Milano, Ricci clears Italian Cup
Ricci’s words
Giampaolo Ricci in Repubblica took stock after the Italian Cup knockout: “We wanted to win the Italian Cup and there's some remorse for how it went: I felt a good atmosphere, I was confident. Trento deserved it, they were fresher mentally and they were hungrier than us and the question è precisely, why? Obviously, each one could give something more;. It was good for us to break away, we went back to the gym with the right face. We know what didn't work, that we need to pass the ball more, defend better, have even more hunger. In these situations the only answer è work and stick together. We absolutely want to win the next two games, be solid, also because we have let go too many chances already. We will also be helped by the anger and sorrow of losing in the cup: defeat d&eagrave; deep emotions that you carry with you much longer than the joy of victory. And when you experience certain disappointments, then you do everything not to relive them”.
Ricci has also just published his book, “I wanted to be Robin”: “&It was an opportunity, they proposed me to write it, I didn't expect it also becauseé è it is too early for a biography of a career still in full swing. It è came out a very intimate book, in which my family è co-starred, which helped me realize, with great emotion, that I have already done many things, that I have so much to tell. In writing it, I felt a sense of gratitude grow for what I am living now: when I was little I didn't have a dream, I built it during my journey. I hope my story can help kids who, perhaps, are still confused about their future. In the book there'è a lot of Africa, where I will return at the end of the season to follow the last works of the school we made with my association, Amani Education, in Tanzania, there'è graduating in mathematics, growing up as a player from the minors. Basically, I have been comfortable in the role of Robin since, at Carnival, my older brother dressed up as Batman and was my reference. Everyone dreams of being in the spotlight, even I have sometimes gotten there, but you can build a career and be important to a team even while working in the shadows, for your teammates”.
Comment on the role as co-captain at’Olimpia? “Nice but not easy, in the sense that it can’never come off, you have to be there all the time. Nothing new: I tried to be like that in my career, to give a little piece of myself to the team. The Olimpia group è very united, even on long trips we stay together, we are not those who, after two days of living together, hate each other…. I have a lot of confidence in what we can do, but è the time to do it, to show our worth. We deserve it”.
