Ettore Messina: I had the strongest people in the world on my side

CSKA return to European elite is closely connected with the name of Ettore Messina. JR Holden and Trajan Langdon have become his ideas’ providers on the team. The words of famous Italian coach are the next in the series of quotes about the retired veterans.

Ettore Messina, CSKA head coach (2005-09):

I am happy that I had a chance to spend part of my life together with these two persons. Everybody had pointed out Holden’s and Langdon’s abilities as players – how serious they were, how dedicated they were. From my point of view I really admired their ability to maintain their personality, to express their opinion. From the other side when their opinion was not the same as other people say they had a very strong sense of team discipline. Only the exceptional people are able to combine these two qualities. They had the ability to sacrifice their ego when it was necessary but at the same time they had a personality to step up and to take the responsibility.

Surely, there is a number of memorable moments, great wins, etc… But the thing that I remember most is our day-to-day work. When I was going to the game I felt that I have the strongest people in the world on my side, the people who were ready to fight for the team, to give their 100 per cent, no matter what, the people whom I can trust 100 per cent. But I can say that I have the same feelings about all the CSKA people. So for me it is not about winning or losing, but about the daily life. That was the best experience I had in my career as a person and as a coach.