On the eve of Bologna’s final home match in the UEFA Champions League against Borussia Dortmund, manager Vincenzo Italiano offered a reflective and optimistic assessment of the team’s European experience.
“The Champions League has taught me so much,” Italiano said. “It’s been a journey that has provided great insights for everyone. We’ve traveled to incredible stages, facing strong opponents at an incredibly high tempo. This experience has actually improved our domestic performances and helped us gain points.”
Despite Bologna’s winless record in the competition, Italiano remains positive about the team’s potential. “Tomorrow, we’ll try to challenge a strong opponent, even though they’ve suffered some recent defeats. They’re fast and extremely dangerous,” he explained. “This is our last home game, and we want to break our zero-win record.”
The manager highlighted an impressive statistic, noting that Bologna leads Italy and ranks third in Europe for pressing intensity. “This is an important metric that shows our approach is producing results and satisfaction,” Italiano stated. “We can still improve, but it’s a key aspect of our style that’s even starting to generate goals.”
Reflecting on the season’s challenging start, Italiano admitted some regret. “I would have liked to have the physical and mental condition we have now, the self-confidence, the awareness, and the now-unblocked attackers and team cohesion much earlier,” he said. “It’s all part of a process, and it’s unfortunate that improvements came so late. But we want to make our mark in these last two matches.”
The possibility of securing Bologna’s first Champions League victory clearly excites Italiano. “The thought of giving our fans our first Champions League win gives me chills,” he said. “We must take this step.”
