The Gialloblù president Garbellotto: “We reached this final with a fast and bubbly game”
Mirco Cavallin / TREVISO
Having dethroned Novara, holder of the Champions League, “avenging” the Berlin final lost in 2019, means for Imoco Conegliano to have reached the 19th final in nine years of history: it will be the third for the top continental trophy, in addition to that of the Club World Cup, at 5 of the Italian Cup, at 6 of the Super Cup, and at 4 for the Scudetto.
“We are very happy – says the Gialloblù president Piero Garbellotto with pride – to have reached this final too and to have done it that way, with an impeccable performance: first set played at very high speeds, second fought and third in which all the athletes had space. This year there is no Vinitaly in Verona, but we bring the prosecco ».
From his seat in the central stand, the president once again appreciated the beauty of the panther game. «Ours is a sparkling volleyball, so fast, that even from above it was difficult to follow the patterns; we hope to maintain this pace and this condition of form also in the month we have ahead, because the path towards the Scudetto and towards the Champions League is not yet completed ».
The Imoco was able to better manage injuries and absences, enhancing and increasing the technical background of their players. Among them, the American spiker McKenzie Adams, who had not played for five games, gave excellent proof of herself, especially in attack.
«It was a difficult match – admits the Texan -, Novara is always a good team to deal with; but we succeeded in our intent, doing what we had to do. Now we are going to the final and I am very happy to have arrived ».
Even the president of Fipav Giuseppe Manfredi congratulated the panthers, who make up a large part of the backbone of the Italian national team: «The girls of the A. Carraro Imoco Conegliano – he writes in a tweet – first finalists of the Super Final in Verona. Congratulations also to Igor Novara, protagonist of a splendid Champions League ».
The time to celebrate and rest, however, is once again very short, because on Saturday we return to the field for game 1 of the quarter-finals, to hunt for the third consecutive Scudetto.
“We will also face this commitment with a smile – says coach Daniele Santarelli -, with even greater intensity, with a little more study than what we have been able to do in recent months”. Hitting 57 straight wins, including 39 this season, was anything but a walk. «I must say that the season was very long (the meeting was in early July, ed), very strange and particular, as different as we would have liked in terms of atmosphere. Our goals are clear in mind, especially for the fans who cannot be there: we feel their warmth and support from outside, and we want to give them other joys: we play and we want to win for them too ».
Thousands were sitting on the sofa to follow Tuesday’s match on television, but some members of the “Non Plus Ultras” were able to see the match live and from a privileged point of view, that is by carrying out the service of field staff. –