Italy: A rivalry with Ettore Messina (Milan)? Sergio Scariolo (Bologna) responds!
More than a rivalry with Ettore Messina, his Milanese counterpart, Bologna coach Sergio Scariolo, prefers to speak of mutual respect.
In Eurocup, many favorites were surprised in the round of 16. Enough to allow Virtus Bologna to go straight for the title? While waiting for the quarter-final, against Ulm, on April 26, Sergio Scariolo was brought up to talk about a completely different subject. Guest of Club Fantini for the presentation of his book, the coach of the Italian formation spoke about his supposed rivalry with Ettore Messina and Olimpia Milan.
“I’m a little irritated by dualism, because when it’s mentioned, it sometimes seems like a lack of arguments. Especially when talking about focusing on the antagonism rather than what we have in common. There are so many other things one could find by maintaining parallelism without having to stress rivalry. There’s respect, there’s a certain friendship within a profession that ignites rivalry more than others, and we’re keeping it within limits this year. We would have that when the playoffs arrive, we will be able to resist those who tire us by the jacket, and those moments when instinct, emotion or ego will challenge us.
I think it would be very arrogant, very presumptuous to think that with a smaller budget we have integrated a better team. To say so now would be presumptuous and arrogant. »
Sergio Scariolo, Bologna coach
Photo: Sergio Scariolo (Euroleague)