Benedetto challenges Forlì at the Baltur Arena: decisive for the playoffs and salvation

The longest week. Two days and at the Baltur Arena get Forlì, with the tip-off moved to 18.30pm as on all the fields on this last day of the regular season, where the Blessed one eye will take it for granted, but the other will necessarily have to remain wide open on the match against the Romagnoli. Also because, to avoid words and various rumours, the one on Sunday at hundred It will be a real match, with Martino's team playing for a better position in the standings to gain home advantage in the next few games. playoff and that of Di Paolantonio, as is known, to save himself directly and avoid the dangerous roulette of the playout. But the gm Nicolai, he doesn't even want to think about this last eventuality. "In the meantime, we have to think about ourselves, and that's it, only about our game, without being influenced or conditioned by the updates that will arrive from the other fields - he reiterates -. We are focused only on Forlì and on the fact that we will have to beat them, with the utmost attention and without any distractions. We will do everything we can to succeed, even knowing full well that they are in great shape and that, like us, they have a lot at stake in the next 40 minutes". No one will take the field to do favors, least of all Sella, who however could even be saved by defeat, provided that Livorno beats Fortitudo at the PalaMacchia: at that point, in fact, even a defeat for Cremona would be "overshadowed" by the arrival at three in the standings, with the tie that would reward the red and whites (2-0 with Libertas and 1-1 with Juvi). But as Nicolai has already repeated several times, in Cento, no one intends to make calculations, but to play a game in the wake of those proposed from January onwards, also counting on the warmth of the Cento people. "Destiny is in our hands and we must be aware of it. If you start thinking about others then you're already done, and then I am convinced, as I have always said, that this group has all the means to save itself and, consequently, also to win on Sunday. After a difficult start, the boys have grown a lot, working well and united, and, for how they interpreted the second half of the season, they deserve to be saved, not only for the points scored, but also for their performances and ability to stay in the games. And I hope that salvation comes on Sunday, at home, in front of our people. The key to bringing it home? Awareness, this is who we are and we are strong, without excuses and without fear". All the energy of Nicolai, optimistic also regarding the full recovery of Devoe. "The food poisoning that hit him last week was very serious, but little by little he has started training again: he will be there on Sunday."

Giovanni Poggi