Murata and Virtus ready to battle for the 20th futsal Scudetto

Exactly one month after the Titano Futsal Cup final, Murata and Virtus meet again to contest another futsal title in San Marino. The Bianconeri are chasing a season treble, while the Neroverdi are looking for their first futsal Scudetto and the second trophy in their history after the Futsal Cup in the 2008-09 campaign. While waiting for the moment of truth – recently moved to a 21:30 kick-off tomorrow – the two sides came together, as usual, for the eve’s press conference, where they took stock of their respective situations. “What has grown over this recent period is the awareness that we are a strong team,” insists Virtus head coach Matteo Michelotti. We’ve reached a second consecutive final, so we cannot think that we don’t have what it takes to challenge for the title. The Futsal Cup final (which ended in a 5-0 win for Murata, ed.) taught us, however, that we cannot afford any lapses in concentration from the first to the last second.” The Neroverdi captain, Matteo Morganti, is confident too: “Ours is a project that started two years ago and the club has invested a great deal to enable us to reach a high level quickly. Last season we came close to the finals, while this year we have reached both of them. Credit goes to the work of the group and the coach. Now we are missing the final step and we believe in it, fully aware that we are going to face a very strong team, which has shown its value throughout the season.”

This is Murata’s fifth final in a row. So far they have won them all, including this season’s Supercoppa and Titano Futsal Cup. “The treble is an important thought for us, but not an obsession.” clarifies Nicola Albani, Murata’s Team Manager. “In sport you have to sweat for every single achievement, ration your energy and manage the key moments. We really believe in our objectives and we have worked hard to achieve them. However, we prefer to deal with them one at a time. Now there’s the Scudetto final to prepare and we are focused on this, knowing that small details will make the difference.” For Danilo Busignani, Murata captain and a seasoned participant in Sammarinese finals, the approach to a match like tomorrow’s is easy to define: “It must be prepared like any other match of the year. For two years now we’ve been going onto the pitch with a clear idea: avoid defeat. And so far we have always managed to do that. So we are not going to change our approach. Also, for many of us this is not the first final of our careers, so we just have to focus on preparing ourselves in the way we know best, trusting that, when it matters, we are able to bring out the best in ourselves.”

Nicola Albani has also worn the Murata captain’s armband – and very, very recently. “I won’t hide it: I would like to play tomorrow. I still live these matches as if I were a player; I even look after my diet with the big occasion in mind. In some way I will be on the pitch even without putting on my boots. I can’t help it: I’m still completely inside that mindset.” By contrast, it has already been a few years (though not too many) since Matteo Michelotti hung up his boots. In that time, the Neroverde coach has successfully made the so‑called step through the looking glass. Even if a certain emotion remains. “I no longer experience it the way I did when I was a player. I’ve learned to channel my competitive fire in a different way to when I was out on the pitch. But I still do, and on top of that I have to stay focused on all those details and responsibilities that fall to a coach. I can’t allow myself to be distracted or overwhelmed by emotion. But I would be lying if I said I don’t feel the final.”

To finish, an update on the two squads. Matteo Morganti starts: “Virtus are in good shape. We trained yesterday as well and we are almost at full strength. We’ve said to each other what needed to be said and we’ve fine‑tuned the last details before the big match. I’d say we’re ready.”

Finally, Busignani: “We’re in good shape as well, overall. Of course we are a bit short on numbers, but that has been the story of our whole season. No alibis, no excuses. Tomorrow’s match is crucial and we have to play it with one thought only in our minds, regardless of whether five, six, seven or ten players take to the court: the result is the only thing that matters.”

The final of the Campionato Sammarinese di futsal (this year celebrating its 20th edition) will kick off at 21:30 on the Multieventi court and will be broadcast live on RTV Sport and Titani.tv. It will be preceded by the third-place play-off, a showdown between Tre Penne and Pennarossa. In that case, kick-off will be at 19:30, again at the Multieventi. There will be no live coverage.