Dragan Stankovic, Nikola Grbic, Mauro Beruto and Dragan Travica at the press conference in Novi Sad
Novi Sad, Serbia, June 25, 2015 - A press conference held at the Sole
Mio hotel in Novi Sad gathered the Serbian and Italian coaches and
captains ahead of the FIVB Volleyball World League Group 1 Pool A
matches between the two teams this weekend.
Italy captain Dragan Travica said: "We are here for two very difficult matches, as we are playing against the Serbian team. We know that it will be difficult to play against them as they are one of the best if not the best team in the world.
"This is an excellent opportunity for us to grow in our game, to mature mentally and to improve our strength and technique and tactics. We have very little time to train and these matches are the best opportunities to resolve the problems we encounter in our game and to strengthen certain points to help us to better results. Finally, we are full of energy to show what we can do in the best possible way."
Asked if there were any secrets between these two teams, Italy coach Mauro Berruto said that there are always secrets. Berruto said that there are the first and the second six matches in the World League this season. In the first six, his team aimed to work well together. In the second six, their goal is to prepare for the Finals.
"We played two great matches with Brazil in Italy, one fantastic in Rome and the second where we encountered quite a few problems. The second part of the Intercontinental Round starts now, when we play against Serbia, and then Brazil, in the last weekend. We haven't made it to the Finals yet, but our playing is already at a high level." Berruto confirmed that the matches his team are playing provide an excellent opportunity to practice and achieve a stable and constant high level of play.
Asked what can be decisive for their play in these final weekends, Serbia coach Nikola Grbic said that his team's goal is to play each match the best it can. He underlined that the level of his team's play was improving from one weekend to the next, but that he had had never thought about qualification for the Finals. Grbic's aim is to focus on each match, so that when each one is finished, you focus on the next one and so on. "It is important to take it a step at a time, to keep raising the condition and game of the team," he said.
The two teams know each other well from previous encounters. Several Serbian players also play for Italian clubs.
Asked about what might be crucial for victories in Novi Sad and in Belgrade, Serbia captain Dragan Stankovic replied that it would be concentration and the desire to win.
"The essential thing is the desire to win, as we succeeded in placing it above all in the first match in Italy. It is true that we are close to going to the Finals, but with wins in the last two weekends we will be sure to qualify. It is important that we work on creating mental stability and do as much as we can to give our best volleyball on the court."