Luca Banchi’s anti-Asvel recipe

After its debut loss to Anadolu Efes, Virtus Bologna faces Asvel Villeurbanne in the second day of the Euroleague. Game two Thursday, Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. at Astroballe in Lyon.

Coach Luca Banchi presented the challenge with the French in a press conference: “This first away game against Asvel will oblige us to provide a careful and aggressive performance, in order to curb their exuberance, amplified by the fact of playing the home opener, aware of having come close to victory against an accredited team like Maccabi”.

“We come to this match determined to give a further sign of our progress, with the desire to put on the field all the spirit it takes to achieve a success against an’opponent of this level” concluded the coach of the HCL team.

“It will be their first Euroleague game at home and that’s why they will be loaded – the words of Ante Zicic -. They come from a good game against Maccabi that was decided only in the final minutes and from the victory with Monaco in the championship. From our side it will take attention for all 40’: we want to play a serious game”.

Nations League, Italy, Luciano Spalletti wants to continue September’s trend

These are the words of Italy coach Luciano Spalletti in the press conference on the eve of the Nations League challenge with Belgium: “Going to the World Cup we feel it as an obligation, è a tournament that has determined our history, made so many people happy. Participating in that competition è something really important but it should not become an obsession”.

“Ours è a group that needs to gain experience, but we are on the right track”, he added. And then again: “I, forò, as an absolute moral obligation I have to do well whenever I arrive at Coverciano. To think things that can follow up on what we are seeing”.

Earlier, before leaving for Rome, at the microphones of Tg1 Spalletti had said: “We need to follow up on what we did in September: that is why we have to win tomorrow, although against Belgium it will not beà easy. I have seen the players so well that I can say I have a very interesting group. They all exude an energy to show that they are at the top. Who of the four new ones are ready for their debut? They are all ready, if I called them here”.

These instead are the words of Riccardo Calafiori: “Bologna è was the first year where I felt really important, I have indelible memories. The Premier, on the other hand, è a very different league from Serie A, I always prefer to learn with quality and different rhythms, I think I can help the national team in this sense”.

“The first thing that struck me after the European Championships è was just the intensity” in the matches and training sessions – he reiterated speaking about the differences with English soccer -. Then I do not feel I have to say that we have to steal something from them in particular”. Finally on returning to the Olimpico after his time at Roma: “Surely it gives me something more to play here”.

Nations League, Belgium, Domenico Tedesco heaps praise on Italy’Italy

This is what Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco said in the press conference ahead of the Nations League match against the Azzurri: “Italy è a strong team, they play from memory, but not all teams have only strengths. È a team that plays vertically and can hurt, they are doing very well, they beat France and Israel and are in a positive moment. But we will try to field our strengths”.

” These matches help us get to success, these are the matches we wake up for in the morning. It’s time to play it, it&#39s going to be a great match for all of us.I can&#39t hide my love for Italy and it’s the first time I” face it. The Red Devils coach, then, stresses how Belgium has ” tried to turn the page as quickly as possible, because é the European Championships were not what we thought. Now we have some absentees, but there are many promising young people with a new and talented generation, we are happy”, he continues.

Then a quip about Atalantino De Ketelaere who deserves “an opportunity” he is doing very well even in the last few games. He has an important role and he can do it with us as well” while on Lukaku&#39s absence he admits how “he decided not to be here for these two games and there’s a possibility he could return in November. I fully understand the decision, his transfer to Napoli è came late and he hasn&#39t had any preparation so he&#39s not yet at the top. There’è no problem”.

Instead, these are the words of Belgian captain Youri Tielemans: “È always interesting to play against Italian teams, I think he will improve; after this match and è from matches like this you learn. Nations League? For some players maybe not è the priority, but the fact that we can play matches like these gives us great motivation. We are here and we want to play”.

The Aston Villa midfielder, then, on his role as captain stresses that he “accepted with great pride. I am happy with what we have achieved, I have a bronze medal at home and è a great achievement. But everyone has to take responsibility, on the field we have to talk to each other” while on the defeat against France and the controversy that followed he admits that we did not “play the way we wanted to. De Bruyne said we have to play for each other, it was a message expressing disappointment and he did it to wake us up. We are a young group and he understood that”.

Finally, a thought on Douglas Luiz, now a Juventus player and former teammate at the Villans. “He è a very technical player, he was very important for us. The only thing I can say è that è he is a very high quality player and with work his quality will come out”.