Xavi Pascual happy with 'complete team'

Before leaving for Milan for Tuesday’s game with EA7 Emporio Armani (9.00 PM CET), Xavi Pascual spoke about how the Italians “have one of the best teams in the competition and could make it as far as the Final Four. They’re a very complete team … They have changed some big players for others of a different kind. James and Kleiza will strengthen their roster.” Milan lost their opening game to another of the group favourites, Fenerbahçe, a warning call for FC Barcelona that it’s never easy to travel in Europe.  “We just have to be strong at home and try to get as many wins as we can on the road” insisted Pascual.

Czech guard Satoransky will travel with the team after being out of action following the detection of an abnormal heart rate. “Satoransky will almost certainly play” confirmed the coach. “We hope he can help us. It’s important he does now that Navarro is out with a very small hamstring tear. He’s going to need to get some rest.”

Justin Doellman added that “it’ll be a difficult game against a very good team. I’m very excited to be going to Milan for the first time. Let’s see how we get on tomorrow … I’m glad to welcome back Satoransky. He’ll help us to move faster. We missed him early on in the season because he’s such a good player. We are missing a great player in Navarro, through injury, but we’ve gained another great.”

Thoughts for José Luis Abós

Xavi Pascual also spoke about the death of former CAI Zaragoza coach José Luis Abós. “It’s a difficult time and I can’t get it out of my head” he said. “It’s a whole mixture of feelings, from the professional, to what an honest man he was and who made such a huge mark on the game in Zaragoza. He was a lovely person who never had a bad word to say about anybody. If we win a title this year, I’ll dedicate it to him, his memory and his family.”