#team-mentality

#team-mentality

While Antetokounmpo's return to the court Friday night at Madison Square Garden saw him maintain the form he was displaying before he missed the past four games with a groin strain -- putting up 30 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in 28 minutes -- it wasn't enough to prevent the Bucks from losing a seventh straight game, falling 118-109 to the New York Knicks.

I think this started towards the end of last season. Do you remember when they won the league? The bad form started; they went away, went to Ibiza or something. Arne Slot was DJing. Honestly, DJing in Ibiza. I think that's disrespectful that, before the season's done. I think that's classless.

"I don't think it is special to this country, I think the big nations take it for granted to be in the big tournaments until they are not," Tuchel said. "This of course happens. For me, it is very important that the players know from me and they get encouraged in what they are doing and they see it in the proof, whether we show them videos or the data, that they feel the appreciation from the coach and the fans."

The coach's irritation is justified, because these lapses in form in March will have a different meaning, especially in the intense race for the Champions League. The second problem is the defensive situation. Yes Milan have conceded only nine goals in 11 league games, but they let in six against the aforementioned trio. The team seem rock solid in big matches, then distracted against lesser-rated opponents. An ability to perceive danger is needed.

I am worried, I cannot deny it. If a team that is meant to be a protagonist loses five games in all competitions by now, then something is going wrong. We must never forget that last time Napoli won the Scudetto, they collapsed the next season. People seem to believe the ugly duckling can become a swan from one day to the next. The energy has certainly changed here, I don't feel the positive energy we had last season.

Massimiliano Allegri is looking for his 100th win as AC Milan head coach, but there is a lot more than just that at stake in Parma. As Corriere dello Sport report this morning, 'failure is forbidden' in Parma. This time, Allegri doesn't want to fall victim of the trap that his side fell into against Cremonese and Pisa, especially on a night where he is chasing a century of wins with the Rossoneri.

I try to give my best. I could have done better against Elche, and I promise to improve, but I'm happy overall with my performance.

I work for the team. These games are incredibly difficult. It's not just about one player's talent, you must never give up as a team. They didn't score early on and they didn't score the penalty; it wouldn't have been fair for the game. We are proud of the win and the standings.

Popovic insisted that any player who aspired to pull on a Socceroos shirt would need to adopt an elite mentality to earn, or continue to earn, that honour. But there was another message. Less a demand and more an evocation and one that has been brought sharper into focus with every step taken on the road towards the World Cup in North America. My expectations were to do something special, in my first talk to the players, Popovic says. That hasn't changed.

First of all I can feel it, it is not just that thing that people say, I feel it every day. Sometimes the pressure I put on the team and myself is so much bigger. I know it is going to take a while. It is really good to hear that.

"Everybody is fighting something whether they're willing to admit it or not. You could be fighting a cold," Mazulla said. "You could be fighting your allergies. You could be fighting your wife or your husband. You could be fighting with somebody, I mean, everybody is in a fight for something. "You could be fighting for a parking spot, you fight for armchairs so you can be more comfortable," Mazzulla added.

Normally, when a very important match comes around, everyone is nervous, Luis Enrique told reporters. For me, as a coach and with experience of this type of match, it's more important to stay calm than to get too excited. We were able to welcome our supporters today and their energy was fantastic. We understand the importance of these matches and the rivalry between the two clubs.

‘I think we were lucky to get a point. We were nowhere near where we need to be. And I'm extremely disappointed and hurt by that. They were braver than us. They were more aggressive than us.’