02/05/2016 11:43
Rising star Simone Giannelli takes positives from 2016 season, even from losses
News from the clubs
Trento, Italy, May 2, 2016. Simone Giannelli is one of Volleyball’s rising stars. A couple of weeks ago the only 19-year-old setter showed once again glimpses of his class when together with TRENTINO Diatec he was close to upsetting Russia’s armada Zenit KAZAN in the gold medal match of the 2016 CEV DenizBank Volleyball Champions League – Men. His club season came to an end last Monday when TRENTINO lost to DHL MODENA the fourth match of the semi-final series in Italy’s national league. Before taking a well-deserved week off, Giannelli interacted with his fans with a live interview on TRENTINO Diatec’s official Facebook page, which gathered as many as 5,304 viewers.
Let’s catch up with Simone and with the most interesting facts he shared during this chat with his fans, which is available right here: https://www.facebook.com/trentinovolleyspa
The 2015-2016 season
“This was definitely a more difficult season than the previous ones because for the first time I was a starting player right from the beginning. I think I dealt with the situation in the right way, without feeling too much pressure and my teammates helped me a lot with this, as they never questioned my role. I am especially thinking about the support and help I received from the other setter in the team, Georgi Bratoev. It has been a great year, I think I continued to grow as a player and I did well thanks to the outstanding team I have been a part of.”
Three finals in one season
“I am proud of what my team did throughout the last seven months because playing three finals out of the four competitions we entered, well this isn’t easy at all. We weren’t able to win any of these finals but I am convinced that it is better to get to play these games rather than not making it to the finals and having to watch them on television. The biggest regret is certainly associated with the Champions League final we played in Krakow, because we missed out on the title of European champions by only a few balls. But I think that the experience we got there will be useful for the future and this applies to the players, the coaching staff and to the club as a whole. The image I will take from this season is the one where we are standing on the second step of the podium at TAURON Arena; though there was some disappointment, it still remains quite an achievement.”
The best compliment
“After the third round of the semi-final series with DHL MODENA I met with Fabio Vullo: receiving his compliments made me particularly happy and proud because as a player and especially as a setter he made history. To compare myself with him is truly an honour.”
Short break
“The elimination from the Playoffs will allow me for the first time in more than two years to take a short break and as they say, to recharge the battery. Though I feel like I need a break, I will take it knowing that I am determined to return to work very soon in order to get stronger than before and give everything I have for the summer campaign with the national team.”
Rio 2016
“The Olympics is a great event, but you have to deserve to be there. I do not take anything for granted, I will work every day to try to deserve a place among the players who will be in Brazil this coming August. To compete at the Olympics is a dream that I want to fulfil.”
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