The Italian captain after the Ligurian’s attack due to his exclusion: “Fabio surprised me, Sinner will return like Berrettini but now we’re focusing on the youngsters”
Never was an eve more turbulent. A few days before the start of the Davis Cup group stage which will see Italy playing against Canada, Chile and Sweden from Wednesday, captain Volandri found himself managing a complicated situation: Berrettini’s injury, Sinner’s withdrawal and Fabio Fognini’s outburst for his exclusion from the national team: “Ungrateful words – explained Volandri in a press release -. His performance in the last three months did not meet the criteria which, in my opinion, must be met to obtain a call-up in Davis: physical integrity and very high motivations”. Today it is time to think about the pitch, about who is there, rather than about those who are absent, managing a situation that leaves a bitter aftertaste.
Captain, humanly, what eve are you experiencing?
“I don’t deny that Fabio’s reaction surprised me. I have always supported him and especially in this period our communication has been continuous, we spoke very often, we offered him support, he was never abandoned to himself”.
I tell the kids that never before have we been united, holding hands and showing who we are
Did Sinner’s resignation hurt you?
“This Davis comes in a complicated period. The players have just returned from five weeks in America, and those like Jannik who have played more are tested. In the match with Zverev he was physically in difficulty, it was clear. I was there, he was playing a unbearable heat. The night of the defeat, Sinner couldn’t sleep, he called me. He asked for some time to understand how his body would react, then we also spoke with Vagnozzi and decided to preserve the athlete.”
However, it is not the first time he has renounced the national team.
“I have been evaluating his behavior since I became captain, and Sinner has often been available. In Bratislava, when we had to qualify, he arrived a few days after the change of coach, in an emotionally difficult moment. Last year he came to Bologna despite the painful defeat against Alcaraz. These are excessive criticisms.”
Will Berrettini come to be a “motivator”?
“He too has always been available for the national team. Now let’s let him breathe, if he is well and we pass the next round we hope to find him again in Malaga.”
Let’s talk about those present: in addition to Musetti, Sonego and Bolelli there are two new entries, Arnaldi and Vavassori.
“We have been following Arnaldi since the days of Tirrenia. With Petrone he made great progress and this year he has grown a lot. The debut in Davis is always delicate, the blue jersey weighs a lot, on other occasions we would have thought of a softer debut. Here instead we have to immediately throw ourselves into the sea and swim. Vavassori gives me many doubles options: he’s playing well with Bolelli, he also won with Sonego. In this case we can also field the Musetti-Sonny duo.”
What will he say to his boys when he sees them?
“That never like this time we must be united, hold hands and demonstrate who we are.”
The national football team has been revolutionized, chaos has erupted in women’s volleyball, and now tennis too… It’s not an easy time to be coach
“In these years of experience I have understood that things are never as simple as one might imagine from the outside. There are complex realities to manage and especially in Italy, when the national team is involved, we tend to criticize and see the glass half empty. But I am certain of one thing: no player, or coach, is more important than the blue shirt.”
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