Professor Francesco D’Ascoli, the team’s physiotherapist, with his trademark frankness, immediately made the priorities clear during our conversation.
The first point to address concerns a curious incident during the last national broadcast on Legavolley. Francesco, you were gesturing something. Who were you angry at? “No, my fear was being misunderstood,” he explains, “because I wanted to make a gesture in honor of Matteo Mancinelli, who unfortunately had a bad injury. I made an “M,” a two… so it might have looked like “never 3-2 at their home.” I didn’t want it to be misunderstood: it was a gesture just for Matteo.”
An episode that reveals the group’s attention to those in need, but also their awareness of how a simple gesture can turn into a misunderstanding on social media.
Speaking of familiar faces, D’Ascoli lets himself go with a memory that smacks of pride and friendship. Antonio Polimeni, his friend, set out on this adventure full of energy. Would he ever have imagined all this? “Last time I thought: we started out in Bisignano,” he says, “and now we’ve found ourselves going to Reggio Emilia and Belluno three or four times—important stages. It was a great feeling. But I know Antonio, I know what he’s capable of. If I were to tell you, ‘I wasn’t expecting it,’ I’d be lying.”
The championship is getting into full swing, with moments of drama and complicated uphill battles. What was the atmosphere like on the bench during difficult times? “I risk losing my life,” he admits, laughing, “because we always have to complicate things for ourselves. But we bounce back when things get tough. This attitude of getting back up, always facing difficulties head-on, is important. It was a great performance by all the boys, by Coach Polimeni. I wouldn’t name them all, but they were all really good.” And about the feared “bête noire” Acqui Terme? “We don’t think about it. If we play like we know how, no one is afraid of us.”
