Messina comments on EuroLeague-FIBA calendar proposal, admits mistake / News - Basketnews.com

Messina said that despite the recent proposal, the two sides still have to improve their approach to the issue. The coach also admitted that his suggestion of resignation in November was a mistake he should not have done.

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The EuroLeague calendar hasn't been released yet but news has surfaced that a proposal has been made that would ease the tension between the premiere European tournament and FIBA's international schedule.

The new proposed calendar would have a two-week break for players to compete in league cups and the FIBA qualifiers window. With FIBA already canceling the November window, it would allow EuroLeague athletes to join the national teams.

Asked about the proposal, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's head coach Ettore Messina said that someone has to give up something for the greater good.

"EuroLeague and FIBA ​​are talking a lot to try to share a project that must necessarily pass through the various national federations. Someone has to give up some matches, whether it's the EuroLeague or the national championships. Maybe instead of 16, 14 teams should play [in the Italian league]," he told during OA Sports' Assist24 show. "They must continue to sit at the table without getting up until they have found a common idea."

The legendary specialist was happy that none of his players picked up an injury in the Italian league finals against Virtus Segafredo Bologna. However, Messina realizes that the situation of players having an increased risk of injury due to the current calendar still remains.

"Now they have 4 weeks off, then they start playing again. They will return from the World Cup exhausted in September to begin a 9-month season with the clubs. This is not normal, it's incorrect. We can only hope that the various parties involved put an end to this mess," he said.

"A small move, but an important one, was the idea of ​​returning to five games for the final series [in the Italian league]," he commended the recent change in the domestic championship. "You can still hope to see a good show but with less tired teams than this year."

After a tough loss against Anadolu Efes Istanbul in November, Messina was visibly devastated and even declared he would resign from his position as head coach. Despite this fact, the 63-year-old remained at the helm of the club for the remainder of the season and will continue coaching the team next year as well.

He now calls his words a mistake.

"It was the thing to say at that moment, but I had to limit myself to saying it only to [owner] Mr. [Giorgio] Armani and [president] Mr. [Leo] Dell'Orco. I didn't have to share it with the public because it caused an uproar," he shared. "It was very simple: if I feel I'm not doing enough to help the team, I have no problem giving way to someone who generates more trust, especially from the owners."

"The moment they told me to go ahead calmly, I was already in place. In retrospect, I realized that this created a situation of alarm and greater uncertainty. It was paradoxically an inexperienced mistake," the veteran coach concluded.

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