The Armani Milón base, with his wife and daughters in Madrid and with no games on the horizon, explains how the team lives the situation: Everything has been a change of direction
Sergio Rodrguez, during the game against Madrid last week.
Everything that the world sport is experiencing these days due to the expansion of the coronavirus, Sergio Rodrguez and his companions had already experienced days before. With the asterisk that, for the rest, they were the ones under suspicion. From Milan, the epicenter of the virus in Italy, El Chacho reflects on an unresolved situation, reviews the events that were gradually surpassing them and asks for calm and responsibility. In three days, his team, the Armani, has gone from receiving Olympiacos behind closed doors (on Thursday, in theory), to having to play that match on neutral ground in Berlin a day later since, as he himself predicted, suspend all Euroleague activity. Everything has been changes of course, protest without resentment.
Like unfortunate pioneers, the players of the Armani Exchange, the team I signed up for last summer, have suffered all the challenges of what is already a pandemic. We played on Thursday 20 against Khimki (7,457 spectators in the Mediolanum Forum) and they gave us four days off through the FIBA windows. My wife, the girls and I went to Madrid. And that same Friday the first cases began to multiply in Lombarda, recalls the base, as if talking about the past century of so many events that have happened. On Saturday night they already told us that there was no school and we decided, due to family logistics, that they stay in Spain.
A week later, they traveled to Kaunas (9,405 fans at the Zalgirio Arena), amidst many rumors. And against Madrid the following Tuesday (March 3) we were forced to play behind closed doors. Something strange, half training, half broken, with difficult situations for everyone. Let's see how some things were recommended for them and not for us. We looked like the plagued ones, he admits. And his road map follows: On Thursday we played in Valencia (also without public) and on Friday we returned to Milan. And then the Lega was suspended. And now the Euroleague … We have always been on the lookout.
Quarantined
El Chacho is a peculiar resident of ground zero, because his current routine, more without the family close by and without games, has little hustle and bustle. More since yesterday, after the positive of Trey Thompkins, they imposed the quarantine for having played against Madrid nine days ago. It is a rare normality. Less traffic is noted in Milan this week. People try to make a living, while trying not to go to places where they are more exposed. But I can't tell you much either, because my way is from home to training and back. Visit the supermarket, which continues with all the products, although with less affluence. And the restaurants don't even venture anymore. The afternoons in the solitude of his apartment are spent connected with family and friends in Spain, giving and receiving news.
-How is it a normal day for a player of a team without competition?
-All year long we have trained in the morning, from 9:30 to 13:30. And then, the afternoon at home. I could go pick up the girl at school. We have the possibility of making a lot of family life. The previous years in Moscow, with training at different times, was complicated. The structure is maintained. Quiz now we spend more hours in the pavilion, although contact with people has been limited. They no longer come to see us at training. The group is as small as it can be. Now, instead of going for a walk or dinner, you stay at home.
Because there, workouts with Ettore MessinaThey are the best part of the day, when you forget a little about everything. Although without a competitive horizon that motivates, the feeling is rare, difficult to carry, you try to do your best, motivate yourself … 95% of the time, if you are not thinking, you are being asked about what is going to happen. When it is impossible to know. The last four days, every three minutes something different has happened. But of course, before was not a plan either. We didn't like playing without an audience. We are used to the pressure of the pavilions, the fans for and against. And it lowered the level of competition. Because we were the only ones in this situation. Then others. It seemed obvious that they ended up suspending the games.
-They may need psychological help if I know this is lengthening?
-I haven't thought about it, because everything is happening very quickly. There is so much information that is difficult to process. We try to focus on what we want to do, which is play basketball again.
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