Vincenzo Italiano It shows up. The new technician of Bologna he spoke today for the first time in a press conference, ranging between the emotion for the new opportunity and the analogies with the old course led by Thiago Motta, which led the Bolognese to a historic qualification for the Champions League: “I’m very excited because having this wonderful opportunity to embark on this journey with professionals who strongly wanted me is nice. I thank the president and the directors. An important year awaits us: we will have to confirm ourselves, we will have to play the Champions League where we want to do well. For the rest I have great enthusiasm and there are all the conditions to work well. The people I will work with are fantastic people. For me it will be the first time in the Champions League and seeing how Bologna has grown, I’m curious to meet the players again”.
From Zirkzee to Calafiori, the future of some big names is in the balance given the many certificates of esteem received. Italian, however, did not lose his composure: “All the players who started below expectations last year proved to be up to the task. Bologna has had notable growth and many of these have also reached the European Championship. We have not yet explored the future of some pawns… we will take time to make the right choices and I am convinced that we will present ourselves well. I won’t talk about the specific case of Calafiori… but I say that in football you can always change your mind and decide something else: as soon as I have all the boys available I will talk to them”.
It is obviously impossible to completely avoid a reference to Thiago Motta and his extraordinary ride, with Italiano however convinced that he can continue along that false line: “There is a similarity… especially with regards to the breadth of the forward play, the midfielders always involved, the central striker who must make the team play well… We are similar, then everyone has their own ideas. Our goal is to confirm ourselves, doing well in the league and performing well in the Champions League. I’m sure we’ll come out of every game with our heads held high. We will be full of commitments and races to prepare from time to time.”.
