Co-captain Giampaolo Ricci poured out raw emotion after Olimpia Milano’s semifinal loss, posting a heartfelt message on social media.
In the aftermath of a crushing Game 4 defeat to Virtus Bologna, which ended EA7 Emporio Armani Milan's 2024–25 season, team co-captain Giampaolo Ricci didn’t hide behind cliches.
Instead, he posted an honest, gut-wrenching message that echoed the disappointment of an entire locker room.
“The hole in your chest that you have tonight will hardly go away,” Ricci wrote on Instagram. “After you've savored the happiness of victory... losing is exhausting.”
Ricci captured the emotional toll of defeat: pounding headaches, self-blame, silence. “You feel responsible and the sensation hurts twice as much,” he admitted. But rather than make excuses, the veteran forward looked inward.
“You haven’t been hungry enough, prepared enough, humble enough. You haven’t been enough,” he confessed. The statement wasn’t just an indictment—it was a call to growth.
Ricci emphasized that these difficult moments carry weight and purpose. “That hole in your chest will remain for a long time to remind you of what you did wrong... and it will be the starting point tomorrow.”
Despite the pain, the co-captain ended on a note of resilience.
“To start fighting again for these colors and these people who were always on your side tonight. Forza Olimpia Milano.”
