By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Round 27 EuroLeague game (March 3) between Olimpia Milano and Real Madrid will be held behind closed doors due to coronavirus outbreak in Italy.
Although some Real Madrid players expressed concern about traveling to Italy, coach Pablo Laso showed calmness in front of the media and even used a chance to joke a bit when asked if they will wear masks:
“We will talk to the doctor. I think they have gone up in price, so I don’t know if the doctor is going to buy us masks for tomorrow. But we will ask him. The kit man said that we don’t have Adidas masks. Hugo Boss, the other sponsor, hasn’t provided masks either. Maybe, at the last minute, we will make some with napkins and two rubber bands,” he told COPE.
Nonetheless, Real Madrid will take all precautions necessary and will – unlike so far – travel to Italy on the same day as the game to minimize the risks.
Laso isn’t the first coach to downplay a bit coronavirus outbreak with a funny act. Ettore Messina did so as well in front of Olimpia Milano‘s clash against Zalgiris.
Ettore Messina’s secret weapon vs Zalgiris: “There will be a very tough game against a very good team. And if things are not going well, we will start coughing. Maybe they will get scared and stop playing.” (via @Urbodo )
— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) February 27, 2020
And Sarunas Jaskevicius answered by greeting Messina on the floor with a “mask gesture” made with his hands.