Lucarelli on the Ace Space
Quotes
Brazillian outside Hitter Ricardo Lucarelli SANTOS DE SOUZA (or as he asks us to call him, just Lucarelli,) joined Dave and Ci to preview the CEV Champions League Volley 2021 Super Final in Verona where his side TRENTINO Itas take on Grupa Azoty KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE on May 1st.
As well as facing a number of questions from fans, as well as Ci digging into his life away from the court, he talks openly about the summer of '16, why now was the right time to play club Volleyball away from Brazil and his thoughts about the massive summer coming up with the National team.
Here are some of his top quotes from the conversation.
On why he left Brazil, and why Italy“Since I was younger I always followed the Italian league and I know it is the strongest and most competitive league in the world. It was always a dream to play here. I think I was waiting for a better time to come so I felt more prepared to play here. Now after some years I feel the right guy although in this Covid time it was not so easy but I enjoy it a lot.”
On the season so far and facing Zaksa“It is really tough to arrive in the finals here, we really wanted to get to the final of the scudetto. Now we unfortunately we will just watch this on TV. We hope that come 1st May we can change a bit the mood in the team after the match and be really happy. We know it will be a really tough match as Zaksa have been playing at an amazing level for five years or more so we know it will be a really hard game."
“I don’t need to tell people what the Champions League is as it is one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. So in my first season I am really happy to arrive in this final. I remember talking to my manager who said this was possible. For sure we are really happy and anxious as we have been waiting for twenty something days. It will be really cool, but unfortunately we will not have the fans as this is the most beautiful thing – but we know it is not the moment.”
On playing at the Super Finals
On winning Gold at a home Olympics“This is the type of thing you can talk about a lot of times. We came from a lot of finals before which we lost and in Brazil they expect a lot so that brings pressure. We did not start well and in the last pool game against France we had to win to make the Quarter-Finals. After this match it was like a change of emotions and we started to play really well. After we won I was in shock. I remember one video from a friend of a beach full of people partying after we win the last point! Priceless.”
On playing with Bruno and Giannelli"“I have already talked with the guys here in Trentino as I see some things that Bruno has in Giannelli. One of the main things is even knowing how good you are, you always trying to get better and learn something new. They both study a lot, they finish the game and take a computer to watching the game again with the second coach etc. They are both equal in this. I am the room mate with Bruno for the National Team and we watch a lot of games as I like to do this as well.”
On who is his idol“This is a question I have no problem to answer, it is Serginho the Libero from Brazil. I do not need to talk about him on the court as everybody knows how good he was. But for me the most important is away from the court. He is the perfect example of an idol; he is the guy who has won everything and everyone knows that he is the best but away from the court he is even better – the way he treats other players for me it was a learning every-day.”