Jasmin Repesa, coach of the Trapani Shark, gave a lengthy interview to ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’. “I came here to challenge myself, because there was a very young, very ambitious project – he began -. A city that likes basketball, a president who provided an important budget, and a fan base that made us feel their support right away. And the team has responded well on the court. I am satisfied with what we have done so far”.

The newly promoted Granata are currently first in the LBA standings, along with Brescia and Virtus Bologna: “I never thought that far ahead. But I was confident. I am convinced that there is everything, or almost everything, to be very competitive, we have proven it. We are a team that can play good basketball, and we have become one of the most entertaining. People want to see basketball like we are playing”.

“Team success comes first – added the Croatian coach. “We have embraced this philosophy from day one, with so many players who have been real stars in the past at different clubs. It is the only way if we want to be really competitive”.

“There are six games left and the playoffs will be another competition. Surprises can always happen, it depends on a thousand factors: how you get there, whether you have luck or bad luck, whether there are injuries or not. We just have to keep improving and growing. In the season finale we have strong opponents waiting for us, with much more experience, much more tradition, but certainly not hungrier than us. Our advantage is having so many players who have made themselves available for the common result. This is our strength” Repesa concluded.

Milan and Inter face each other at 9 p.m. at the ‘Meazza’ in the first leg match of the Coppa Italia semifinal. After Bologna&#8217s clear away victory over Empoli (3-0) with which it mortgaged the final, it will be the turn of the Nerazzurri and Rossoneri to challenge each other in the fourth Milan derby of the season.

Sergio Conceiçao starts again with Leao: the Portuguese will be back as a starter in the Rossoneri’s three-quarter, with Pulisic and one between Jimenez and Musah, with the former ahead in the ballot. In attack, Abraham is ahead of Gimenez for a shirt from the 1′.

Made choices in midfield, formed by Fofana and Reijnders, and in defense where Gabbia and Thiaw will play, with Walker and Theo Hernandez acting as full-backs, while Maignan will be in goal.

Simone Inzaghi, on the other hand, changes as many as six players from the challenge with Udinese, starting with the goalkeeper. Between the posts, in fact, there will be Josep Martinez in front of a revolutionized defense that will see the presence of Bisseck, De Vrij and Bastoni.

The goalkeeper will be Josep Martinez.

In the midfield, Asllani is disqualified: confirmation for Calhanoglu in the direction, assisted by Frattesi and Barella. In attack, with Lautaro Martinez and Taremi out, chance for Correa from 1′, paired with Thuram.

Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano spoke after the 3-0 victory in the Coppa Italia semifinal first leg against Empoli: “Winning here was a goal of the evening, we were good at approaching it well and scoring almost immediately. Very good in the first half going into the double lead, then we also found the third goal but the difference was made by the approach and preparation for this game. The first half we won it, by three goals. Now we will prepare for the return”.

“Has the Champions League made us a mature team? It left us so much that competition, because we faced the best, all top teams with pace and intensity. We transferred all that to the league, the game with Dortmund made our performance blossom. Champions made us a little bit’ turn”.

“Having a footballer like Orsolini who is unique for his concreteness is easier, great credit goes to him. We scored a lot of goals with the outsides, it means we accompany well. And I am also very happy for Dallinga, the performance in Venice gave him rhythm and condition, we know how important it is to score goals for a striker, having him happy and in self-esteem for us is important. We say 99% of the credit is theirs, then the’1% is also taken by the coach”.