Veteran Bologna defender Lorenzo De Silvestri joked about the transfer rumours linking Mats Hummels to the club: “At the very least, I’d improve my German…”.The Rossoblu are set to compete in the Champions League next season and are steadily reinforcing their squad, following the departure of coach Thiago Motta and talismanic forward Joshua Zirkzee. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello sport, De Silvestri, affectionately known as “The Mayor” of Bologna, shared his thoughts on the upcoming season:
On the possibility of training alongside Hummels, De Silvestri joked, “Well, he’s certainly a great player. At the very least, I’d improve my German…”
Reflecting on Bologna’s recent success, De Silvestri expressed his contentment: “I’m very happy to be with the team I’ve played for the longest in my career. The feeling is one of happiness, of conscious serenity related to the fact that we’ve experienced a magnificent season that we’ll remember for a long time, for feelings and sensations. And this should be a starting point for everyone.”
When asked about the pressure of playing in the Champions League, De Silvestri was optimistic: “The Champions League, come on, it can’t be a burden: it’s the thing that makes you go an extra meter, that makes you go to the stadium happy. It’s only a source of happiness.”
Commenting on the new coach, Vincenzo Italiano, De Silvestri said: “Italiano presented himself as very eager, charged up, available: and we are sponges. Even though we start from a very important base given to us last year: they recognize a certain type of game in us, he has international experience and therefore also mental and field management, we are getting to know each other, we will have to get to know each other as quickly as possible. Change often brings beautiful things.”
On his role as a ‘welcome manager’ for new players, De Silvestri shared: “The first word I use with newcomers? Just one: family, also according to our motto ‘We are one’. And then I tell them that it’s necessary to understand the roles well, the concept of union that was perfectly visible in the celebrations last year, in knowing how to stay on the bench and enter with great strength.”
Regarding his experience in the Champions League with Lazio and Fiorentina, De Silvestri offered some wisdom: “The stature of the player is seen when you don’t make differences between stadiums, audiences, competitions, Tuesday or Sunday. You need to understand how to manage the pressure of playing every three days, to re-motivate yourself each time, mental work makes the difference.”
