Gianmarco Pozzecco, coach of the Italian national team, protagonist of a long interview on Sportweek columns.
We report some of the most significant passages.
Trust for a positive result at Eurobasket.
From day one of my story about the national team. At the European 2022 he brought this bench, from when that is Italy in the quarterfinals, eliminated by France. Federal President Petrucci said to me “You are the national team coach”, I had great respect and consideration towards my players. So my trust is at the ten level ».
What makes it so optimistic?
“The spasmodic love of these guys towards the blue shirt, the sense of responsibility they show in wearing it”.
On Danilo Gallinari:
“What Gallinari has finally won a title is one of the greatest bullshit in history. A banality that I hate myself with all of me. Tell me: Charles Barkley, John Stockton and Karl Malone, three champions of the past in the NBA, had played together in the same team in Italy, how many badges would have won? We have done that they had made 5 years in my Trieste: Trieste wins five shields. Barkley, Stockton and Malone would have been automatically considered winners. If you were born 10 years before or after, and I do not get caught Valentino Rossi, you won some world championship “. I mean that if the” Gallo had remained in Europe instead of going to the United States, he would have won the Euroleague three times, four the Italian championship, seven the Italian Cup. So he is not a loser because he did not win, he simply made a choice in his life that was to go to the NBA dominated by people like Lebron or Curry. If you have the ass to play with those there, you win too. If not, you just participate. “
In short, what team do you want to see on the parquet?
“I find a little effort to respond. I want a team that is aware of being able to defend, and that does not feel conditioned by what happens in attack to put in place a defense of the highest level, without this considering us good only to prevent the opponent from making a basket. I’ll explain to me: the defensive teams is as if they reluctantly accepted their nature because they recognize that they are scarce in attack. Pajola and Melli who are defensively monstrous.
