The words of Sergio Conceiçao

Sergio Conceiçao spoke in a press conference on the eve of Feyenoord-Milan, first leg of the Champions League play-offs. “We don’t have so many options,” he began, “There are 15 movement players plus the youngsters, between injuries and those who are not on the Champions list. The coaches have to find solutions. We play in 11, the balance is achieved with the whole team. We want to do well and find balance, not è that if you have a lot of offensive players you score more goals and if you have a lot of defenders you don&#39t concede any. Every game has its moments and we need this balance”.

On Rafael Leao: “È available, as in previous games. È it was my choice not to start him as a starter, but when he è entered he did well as we want him to do. È available, I’m not saying if he plays as a starter”.

Great former of the challenge Santiago Gimenez: “Santi è a player I followed for years. All of us in soccer evolve day by day: he è young, he has a long way to go. È he è already a top player. If he scores goals è credit to the whole team. Like if Mike does not get so many goals, è because of the work of the whole team. He has quality è to finalize the actions that the team creates, he has so much talent. He has to keep working, the team needs him with and without the ball. I am very happy with him and everyone else right now”.

“È a special game for everyone, è important and we are here because of our fault because weé could have been already in the Round of 16. We want to take this responsibility;. The change of technical staff creates different motivation in the group. È a Champions game, on a historically difficult field. I played there three years ago with Porto. È a difficult, tough, hot environment. We also have our problems, with players out. We will make the history of the game, the future depends on what we do. If we go in with the right attitude, putting on the field what we have prepared, then there will be a chance to get a good result”.

“È a matter of results. Coaches always have their bags packed, everything changes quickly in soccer. The important thing is to look at the present, the future depends on what we do today. I am not worried about that, even in Porto they told me that maybe I would stay 3-4 months and instead I stayed 7 years” concluded Conceiçao.

Pistoia greets and thanks Micheal Anumba

The paths between Estra Pistoia and Micheal Anumba are parting. The 1999-class guard/winger, who arrived last summer, has terminated his contract with the red and white club after not even six months. This was announced è by the Tuscan club itself through an official note.

“A.S. Estra Pistoia Basket 2000 announces that it has reached the’agreement for the consensual termination of the contract with guard/winger Micheal Anumba” reads the Estra statement.

“The club thanks the young man for the’commitment and professionalism’shown in recent months and wishes him the best of luck in the continuation of his career” closes the note from Pistoia.

Anumba, who has found very little space in Pistoia, has collected 13 appearances with the red and white jersey with an average of just 9 minutes played.

Serie A, the decisions of the Giudice Sportivo

Serie A Sporting Judge Gerardo Mastrandrea, after analyzing the reports of the top league matches played between Friday, Feb. 7 and Monday, Feb. 10, stopped six players for disqualification, also punishing Hellas Verona with a fine. Stop also for Paolo Vanoli’s deputy at Torino, Lino Godinho.

EXPOSED PLAYERS – DISQUALIFICATION FOR TWO ACTUAL DAYS OF MATCH: MARIANUCCI Luca (Empoli): for having, at 20° of the second half, getting up from the ground after a clash, intentionally hit with his cleats the groin of a player of the opposing team.
SQUALIFICATION FOR ONE ACTUAL DAY OF MATCH: TOMORI Oluwafikayomi O (Milan): double admonition for misbehavior towards an opponent.

FOOTBALL PLAYERS NOT EXCITED – DISQUALIFICATION FOR ONE ACTUAL DAY OF MATCH: CRISTANTE Bryan (Roma): for misconduct against an opponent; already warned (Fifth penalty).
GHILARDI Daniele (Hellas Verona): for misconduct against an opponent; already warned (Fifth sanction).
KEAN Bioty Moise (Fiorentina): for improper behavior towards an opponent; already warned (Fifth sanction).
RICCI Samuele (Torino): for improper behavior on the field; already warned (Fifth sanction).

Fine of € 2,000.00: to the Soc. HELLAS VERONA for having its supporters, during the match, throwing a firecracker in the playing area; penalty mitigated ex art. 29, paragraph 1 letter b) CGS.

EXPOSED COACHES – SQUALIFICATION FOR ONE ACTUAL DAY OF MATCH: NEVES GODINHO Lino Filipe (Torino, vice): for having, at 49° of the second half, entering the field of play, blatantly contested a refereeing decision.