Mister’s new adventure officially kicked off this Thursday Vincenzo Italiano at the helm of Bologna. The former Fiorentina coach was presented in a press conference by the rossoblù CEO Claudio Fenucci.
These are his main declarations: “I must say that I am very excited because having this beautiful opportunity to embark on this journey with professionals who strongly wanted me is beautiful. I thank the president and the directors. An important year awaits us: we will have to confirm ourselves, we will have to playing 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 with. For me it will be the first time in the Champions League and seeing how Bologna has grown curious to find the players”, the words collected by FirenzeViola.it.
An extraordinary job was done in Bologna by focusing on non-established players. Do you expect a strategy of this type or do you believe that Zirkzee and Calafiori could be part of the future?
“All the players who started below expectations last year proved to be up to the task. Bologna has had a notable growth and many of these have also reached the European Championship. We have not yet explored the future of some players. We will take time to make the right choices and I am convinced that we will present ourselves well.”
Looking at the football proposal, how close do you feel to Motta’s Bologna?
“There is a similarity, especially with regards to the breadth of the forward play, the midfielders always involved, the central striker who has to make the team play well… We are similar, then everyone has their own ideas.”
What objectives did the company ask you to achieve?
“It is clear that our objective is to confirm ourselves, doing well in the league and performing well in the Champions League. I am sure that we will come out of every match with our heads held high. We will be full of commitments and matches to prepare for each time.”
You started from the bottom to get to the top, what do you say to those who judge a coach’s career for having lost three finals?
“We often forget how we get to the final. I believe that the path that led to the finals with Fiorentina has value. A great coach like Gasperini also reminded me of this on the last day of the championship. The hope is that from For my part, there is a way to play other finals and win this time.”
What convinced you to choose Bologna?
“After getting through the Conference semi-final I concentrated on preparing for the final, then there was also the recovery of the championship and in the end there was a lot of bitterness because I believed in that victory. In the following days I had the opportunity to continue talking with the directors and there has been no problem. They have been my collaborators for many years and now we will see how to integrate with some figures.
What is the main curiosity about your arrival in Bologna?
“Every professional knows where they go to work and understand people’s moods. Here in Bologna I know that people want to see a team that has a passion for the game, then I too will soon want to make myself known to the fans, who I have already seen in the square in celebrate”.
That Vincenzo Italiano arrives in Bologna and what does Bologna represent for you?
“I have certainly changed compared to the coach who arrived in Florence to coach a team returning from salvation. I have changed above all because of what I managed to achieve.”
Is it a regret not having had a striker of Vlahovic’s caliber?
“Time has passed, but we still managed to achieve excellent results with good players in that area of the pitch. We all could have done better. I am convinced that we have completed a good three-year period and if there is one regret that I carry with me it is the final in Athens and not being able to win a trophy: I would have liked to replay the match against Olympiacos a minute after finishing the match.”
What growth step is Bologna for you compared to Florence?
“The Champions League is something that adds a new goal to my journey. The experience of the Conference finds me prepared in managing commitments, but we will face teams of great value.”
Read all the words of Mister Vincenzo Italiano in the press conference here!
