Volley Nations League, Zaytsev is back. De Giorgi: “Now he is ready to help Italy”

The last stage before the finals in Bologna starts today in Gdansk against Bulgaria (5 pm, live on Sky Sport Action) and Italy has two objectives: to consolidate its position in the top eight (at the moment it is third with 6 victories) and grow in the game also in view of the World Cup starting at the end of August (the competition calendar). And also test those who have not had space so far. This is Ivan Zaytsev’s week. The opposite blue returns to play a match with the national team almost a year after the Olympics. He returns after a season of tribulations due to the knee operation that kept him out for many months and after the market events that saw him one step away from leaving Civitanova. And he returns to wear the blue no longer as a captain (now he is Giannelli), but with the same desire to give his best for Italy in search of his best form in view of the Final Eight in Bologna and, in perspective, of the World. “Both Ivan and Roberto Russo are better off – says coach De Giorgi, who is also back with the team after the stop due to Covid -. They come from complicated seasons (the Perugia center struggled to recover from the injury to the tendon. Achielle, ed), both with physical problems and for them we have planned extra physical work time to recover. It is right that they come into play when they can actually help the team. Now they are fine and the time is right. free Scanferla – the Apulian coach is keen to underline – was particularly unlucky, he got hurt in the first Nations League match and it was correct to give him the chance to be seen “. A long-awaited return from everyone: “They are motivated and they want to make themselves available and that’s the important thing”.

Targets

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A coach satisfied with Italy seen so far, even when he wasn’t there: “They kept a spirit and a mature attitude beyond the normal difficulties and this is a good sign. They never gave up, always attached to matches regardless of the problems and this is something to be given continuity. Some then returned in the second week and the intensity is still not at its maximum. The goal is therefore to improve the condition and level of the game. In this he gives us a hand formula with four consecutive games. As we go forward we grow in terms of understanding. We have to work on the serve, on the pace of play to be kept high, even with the defense. “