Maxwell Holt’s first interview as a player of Azimut Modena Volley
I: Maxwell, the Italian fans have already known you well at the Olympic Games in Rio; now, there’s this new adventure in Modena. Which are your first sensations?
H: As I said before, the first sensations are the feeling of being part of a family here. I arrived few days ago and I already feel like I’m part of a family. I’ve met all the staff, all the team, I already knew some players. I already feel good [here]!
I: Yesterday (at Modena Volley’s official presentation, ed.), you said that you came back to Italy in order to win the Scudetto.
H: Yes, that’s the reason. I left Italy with a really bad memory: when I played in Piacenza, we lost against Trento (season 2012/13, ed.), so I wanted to come back and win the Scudetto.
I: There’s already an important appointment, the Italian SuperCup.
H: Yeah, it’s next weekend, so we’re working towards it. We want to win, [but] there will be three [other] strong teams (Trento, Civitanova Marche, Perugia, ed.), and we’ll see.
I: Let’s talk about the Olympics. You even showed us your tattoo, consequently it must be a memory that you treasure in a very strong way.
H: Yeah, definitely. It was a top experience that I will cherish for all my life.
I: You talked about the final lost against Trento when you played in Piacenza, and Trento will be your first opponent. You’ll start exactly from the same opponent!
H: Trento’s team has changed a little, but there will be the same feeling.
I: You’ll also get a taste of PalaPanini’s atmosphere not as an opponent, [but] as a player of Modena this time!
H: Yeah, I can’t wait to play again there!
I: [In Modena Volley] there are three top middle-blockers. How do you think that this will be managed, also considering your (of all the three middle blockers, ed.) physical conditions?
H: Yes, we are three Olympians, three strong players, so…we’ll see!
I: You talked about the Olympics, about Zaytsev’s serves at the end of the fourth set [of the semifinal between USA and Italy]. You (meaning the whole USA national team, ed.) still have that semifinal in your minds…
H: Yes…let’s just leave it. [Zaytsev] played a great match, but…we definitely could have won it.
I: You played in Russia, [but] now several players, not only you, are coming back in Italy. Is this the World’s most beautiful championship again?
H: Yes. In my opinion, it has gone back to what it used to be four or five years ago. I’m happy to be back and play at this level. It’s awesome for all the world to see that the Italian championship has got back this [high] level.
I: You said that you came back to win the Scudetto, but the competition is tough.
H: Yes, it will be hard to win the Scudetto. [It will be] even more difficult to win two consecutive titles, so we need to work and play together. We have the talent, the willingness, the staff, the coach, so we can do it.
I: All of you middle-blockers have just come back from the Olympics. I imagine that the coach makes you work a lot both on the block and on the feeling with the setter.
H: Yeah. Obviously, when [you play with] a new setter, you must work a lot from the very beginning in order to [develop] the feeling and the timing. We’re working [on it]. Unfortunately, I was the last one to arrive here, but I’m working!
I: From this point of view, this weekend there will be the friendly tournament in Verona, which will be very important for all of you three middle-blockers.
H: Yes, it’s very important because it will be the first tournament that we’ll play all together.
Source: Modena Noi Youtube
Disclaimer: Obviously, the translation isn’t literal nor perfect, as it’s almost impossible to translate many Italian idioms (unless you’re a professional translator who I am not). However, the translation is still as close as possible, keeping the actual meaning of the players’ words.
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