"When we make a mistake, we have to think about the next point: we don't analyze, we play. Otherwise, we make another mistake, thinking about the previous one." As a perfectionist and a coach of the mind, rather than the technique, Julio Velasco delivers this message to his Italian team, who won 3-0 over Croatia in their European Volleyball Championship opener.
At the Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Italy won the first match of the group with mastery and consistency of play (25-9, 25-22, 25-23) but also with unexpected moments of difficulty, especially in the second set.
"It was a great 3-0, with an incredible first set," commented Alessia Orro, praised by Velasco for her ability to lead the counterattacks. "Julio asked us to push from the first point because it was important to start strong, and we managed to do so. In the second set, however, we relaxed a bit, and on the other side, Croatia began to express their game, causing us problems in some situations." "But we know it can't always go like the first set, and we were good at reacting and coming back," concluded the setter from Narbolia. "Mistake is good," explained Velasco, repeating the concept she used to shake up her players, who were busy discussing mistakes during the second set timeout, "because you can't always have a perfect team. If we sit there analyzing every mistake, we'll then mess up the next point: the journalists do the analysis, we play. So I don't want people to think about a past mistake, but about the next point."
The Azzurre return to the field tomorrow at 3 pm against Montenegro.
(Unioneonline)