Rossini: The Final will be ‘a cat-and-mouse game’, we will give our best
Interview
One of his dreams is to win the Champions League, says Salvatore Rossini, libero of TRENTINO Itas. He will have the chance to make it come true on May 1 when his team will enter the most important ‘club Volleyball battle’ of the season, the Super Final of Europe’s elite competition. In Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, Rossini&co will have to show their best vs the inspired and highly motivated team of Grupa Azoty Zaksa KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE. Led by Angelo Lorenzetti, considered by Rossini one of the two most influential coaches in his career, TRENTINO have great chances to grab the Gold medal.
Silver medallist from the Olympic Games 2016, Rossini is “hungry” for a great accomplishment on a club level. Before joining TRENTINO, Salvatore was playing for Azimut Modena, bringing home various trophies (1 Scudetto, 2 Cups of Italy, and 3 Supercups). However, the success on the international club stage has been missing but after 45 matches this season with TRENTINO (13 in #CLVolleyM), things seem to be falling into place for Rossini, as in his first season in the team, he reaches the final of Champions League. There should be something special about this group of players that helped the team to perform so well this season.
Salvatore Rossini“Actually, the Champions League has helped us throughout the season; we could do some team-building, and improved our team-cohesion. Living the various rounds of the competition together, in the so-called “bubbles”, has definitely made us feel more united and stronger. I would say that the journey that we made together was important for many reasons, not only for those related to the results "
Libero, TRENTINO Itas
The team spirit will be very important next Saturday, and it might be crucial on the road to the #CLVolleyM Gold. TRENTINO’S opponent, KĘDZIERZYN KOŹLE, are also a group of players counting on a great motivation this year. Rossini is aware of that and acknowledges that the Super Final might be a “cat-and-mouse game of nerves”. “Zaksa play a ‘Volleyball of patience’, they have a great control of the ball, play well on the block and are fast in defence. We will have to keep calm and try not to get nervous. The performance on hitting and reception will make the difference.”
Facing ZAKSA as a team will be fundamental to TRENTINO, but Rossini believes there is one player whom he and his teammates should pay special attention to.
Salvatore Rossini“Certainly, this is the opposite Łukasz Kaczmarek. Toniutti relies a lot on him, especially in the difficult and decisive balls”.
Libero, TRENTINO Itas
Even though the #SuperFinalsVerona will be played behind closed doors, Rossini sends a message to TRENTINO’s fans that the team play their best Volleyball on the court. “Maybe a Champions League Final is the game you would least expect to play without public. We have started our #CLVolleyM journey this season in Amriswil with some spectators following the games; and we would have loved to finish it in the same way. With fans! However, if this is not possible, our fans can rest assured because we will still give our best!”