Michele Catalani, coach of Olimpia Milano Under 19 and father of this extraordinary group, spoke on Tuttosport.
On the triumphs
“A recognition for what we are building. We do not work for the result itself, but if these successes arrive, it means that we are following the right path. This group had already won last year under age. This year we expected confirmation and we managed to repeat us. It was not obvious. It is the demonstration that the programming pays.”
On the strength of the group
“Cohesion. Everyone has put their qualities at the service of the team. Even last year, with perhaps even more talent, there have never been selfishness. The real secret is a solid and shared system.”
At work
“An immense satisfaction. This group represents the realization of a project that started three years ago by the will of Coach Ettore Messina. Seeing many guys who have made the whole path with us, from the minibasket to here, is a reason for great pride. We hope it is only the first of many groups capable of making this journey.”
On the NCAA
“Economically now Europe cannot compete with the proposals of colleges. As coach Messina said, it is positive for us that the boys live this experience, even on a personal level. Europe instead will have to understand how to manage the relationships between the Fiba and the American colleges. Maybe I am perhaps countercurrent, but I think there is still a distance between youth and high senior level. We need patience: it is nice that there is no attention on the boys, but you don’t have to burn the stages.
