Bologna –
First days of direct training in the gym for coach Scariolo, who spoke to the press for the first time this season: “In these first days I got to start getting to know the team, especially the new players, having returned with great energy and motivation for the new season. It’s going to be a demanding season, from all points of view, there will be a lot of work to do, based on what I’ve seen in these first few days but there is a good attitude and general good will. Specifically I will only be able to go when I have more contact with the team and especially with the new players who are obviously a bit further behind than those who were already there. The society has handed the team to me and I receive it with a lot of desire as always to make it competitive and choral, a team that sacrifices and works for each other. Credit must be given to the society for doing what they can according to the means at their disposal, now it is up to us on the field to do the best we are capable of.”
The characteristics of this team? “I need a few more weeks especially for those who have just arrived, some I know better obviously.There is no doubt that the natural offensive quality is lower than last year while the defensive potential is higher, if there is the will that I have detected in these early days from the very beginning.Most of these players have never had a priority role in their respective teams, some of them have had it in the distant past, many need to step up in personality.In the end many games are played in the quarters-it takes talent to create opportunities against defenses, so we expect a step forward from players who can grow.Last year one of the solutions was to give a lot of the ball in Milos’ hands, so now it will be necessary to find good shots from collective actions, but we all know that in the important moments of the games those collective situations are stopped by the opponent’s defenses and so individually it will be necessary for someone to step up.I come from an experience with the national team where we were playing very well, we were getting in front in the last quarters but we lacked a player who had the ball in his hands in the highlights. We will try to figure out later on how to play those possessions where the ball is hot.
Let’s see if anyone will be able to take that step forward, as we expect, to enhance our qualities.”
Lundberg? “It is a decision of the Club that at this time has the absolute priority of course, let’s see what will be the development in the coming days. Iffe, I must say, is training very seriously and professionally, as he always did last year as well.It’s a decision for which it doesn’t matter who makes it externally, what matters is the line that is chosen on which to be compact and homogeneous, after the various internal evaluations.”
Is Lundberg’s situation and Dobric’s temporary absence a problem at this time of preparation? “In the meantime, I have to say that I am happy with the contribution that the young people are making, some have already even participated heavily in the friendlies. The preparation phase is a phase where rosters are filled with players who are not under contract, who come from other teams.We are now simply waiting for them to return, as Isaiah and Toko, Alexander and Achilles have already done.Lundberg’s speech is different, because he is not considered among the players who will be available to the first team and therefore cannot be put as an absence.Menalo is also making strides, especially on offense.The young people are giving us a great hand in training, then we also think that if there should be an opportunity, especially in the league, we will open the doors for them even maybe for a few minutes.”
