It’s a day that gets the adrenaline pumping: the eve of the Champions League Final Four! At the Turin headquarters, the captains and coaches of the four participating teams met with the Italian and international press this morning at the official press conference to present the major event, which will kick off tomorrow with the two semifinals. The field will feature Polish teams Warszawa and Zawiercie, Turkish side Ankara, and defending champions Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia, representing Italy for the second consecutive year. Last season, President Gino Sirci’s club reached a historic milestone, winning a trophy for the first time, a trophy missing from their already impressive trophy cabinet. It’s also a historic achievement for Juventus captain Simone Giannelli, who also won his first Champions League title with Perugia: an aspect the Block Devils director highlighted again this morning in his press conference, emphasizing how it’s by no means a given to once again be among the top four in Europe.
Sir Sicoma Monini Perugia has earned a spot in the Final Four after a challenging season, with their European competition campaign fitting into an unprecedentedly busy schedule, having been at the forefront of all competitions.
Their pre-match feelings are more positive than ever: “The feelings are positive, they’re great, obviously. You can see everyone’s desire to do their best, to play to the best of their ability. Just as they want it, we want it too. We’re happy to be here because reaching the Champions League Final Four two years in a row isn’t a given. There are so many strong teams, so we want to enjoy this moment, this semifinal against Warsaw, play to the best of our ability here, and do it with the desire to have fun, as I heard some coaches say this morning in the press conference. There’s also the fun aspect, and we must never forget that, so we’re here and let’s play our cards!”
