By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With AX Armani Exchange Milan being at the bottom of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings having a 3-10 record, Ettore Messina explained that at this point he will stay on the bench, finish the season, and hope for the best.
Messina himself opened the discussion about a coaching change since he is also the president of the basketball operations of the club, however, that’s not the case anymore.
As he said in last night’s press conference addressing the vote of confidence to him by the club president Leo Dell’Orco: “I thank Dell’Orco, as I thank Mr. Armani. There are seasons in which things like these happen, as it also happened previously to us, to Maccabi, CSKA… At home we haven’t won yet, people are sad and angry, and I understand it. If I saw the same thing on Sunday… instead, I see a different group. At this moment there is also a psychological issue in the Euroleague and we cannot do for 40 minutes what we do for 20, 25, or 30. I thought about it a month ago, and then we all talked together, and jumping ship is not the most right or dignified thing to do. Let’s see in the end how it will go. I am confident that I can still do important things, although in Euroleague it’s difficult”.
Leo Dell’ Orco said to the Italian press agency ANSA on Messina: “We continue with him without ifs and buts. We have also a deal for next year”.
Milan will go down fighting and Messina also clarified that they will be no changes in the roster: “There is neither the space, nor the possibility, nor the will. Because I want to see the team with Pangos, Shields, and Datome, then we’ll sum up. Our duty is to improve this team. Then we will see what happens”.