Neven Spahija speaks candidly: “I wouldn’t have anything to say if Trieste had won”

Neven Spahjia had a tough time in Trieste. “We came away with this win because in the final stretch we were able to handle a couple of key possessions better, both on defense and offense,” began the Reyer Venezia coach. “But let’s be honest: if Trieste had won, there would have been nothing to say—they would have deserved it just as much. I saw a Trieste team with a lot of heart and a great desire to fight, even though they had to bring in their newest player just three days before the game. For them, it was a real battle.”

“As for us, we didn’t play our usual game. We made too many mistakes on both defense and offense, missing a lot of shots: these things can happen, but from a tactical standpoint, at certain points we weren’t the team we need to be. In any case, as I always say, it’s definitely better to work on and correct mistakes after a win than after a loss.”

“I’d like to sincerely thank the entire Trieste crowd, and especially the Curva fans, for the wonderful welcome and send-off: my respect for this city remains unchanged and looks toward the future. In the first two rounds, Trieste faced the Italian champions and the league runner-up, staying in the game the entire time: there’s great potential for the rest of their season.”

“At the start of the season, it’s always challenging to prepare for games against new teams that you don’t yet know thoroughly. In the final stretch, in some ways, the game was decided by plays similar to those we saw against Milan. We’re heading home with two important points and a clear understanding of the areas we need to keep working on.”