Vincenzo Italiano, coach of Bologna, spoke in a press conference on the eve of the match against Verona, scheduled for tomorrow at 12:30 pm. Below are his statements.
DIFFICULTY IN TRANSFER. “In the last period we have alternated great performances at the Dall’Ara with uninspiring performances outside. We need a lot more attention, a lot more personality, to show in 90 minutes what we can do, always carrying our mentality. We have to be the same at home and away: that’s what makes the difference in a soccer team. Our growth also comes from being able to improve away from the Dall’Ara where we are showing that we have an edge. We discussed this, and we also saw some situations. Tomorrow we have a tough game ahead of us against a team that has regained enthusiasm, that expresses itself well … Tomorrow will be tough for us.”
CONSIDER A BIG ONE. “You have to be able to adapt to everything the opponent offers you. The last three games away from home have been different, in Empoli and Lecce we were too slow while in Parma we lacked in the last pass. Tomorrow I think it will be different from all three of these games; Verona has great pace, plays a lot on second balls and looks for the attackers. We have tried to analyze Hellas thoroughly, starting also from the first leg game where mistakes did not allow us to close the first half in the lead and where Pobega’s naivety had complicated the game. Episodes cannot be coached, but mentality can.”
LUNCH HOURS. “With the staff and the boys, we also talked about this but always training in the morning they are used to that time. It changes little. It’s the first time this0year and we have to try to get it into our heads quickly that we get out of bed and go to the stadium to play an important game.”
VERONA. “Verona is doing well, they have found great energy and strength in some elements, and in the market they have added top players. Tomorrow they will also be supported by a stadium that will push them, and the team at home knows how to be aggressive both in structure, physicality and pace. In the aspect of attitude we must have a fierce approach from the start.”
HOLM AND PEDROLA. “As for Holm and Pedrola, they returned, Holm yesterday while Pedrola at the beginning of the week. Slowly they will start to be well as well. Unfortunately, this year we lost some elements in their best moment, see Orsolini, Holm, Ferguson and Odgaard. Holm will be back to full strength, as will Pedrola a guy who came here with great enthusiasm and a spirit that I really like. They both come from nagging injuries, however.”
ODGAARD. “This week allowed him to add condition. Before Cagliari he was still not 100 percent, while this week he pushed hard and grew in condition. I can say that we got him back. In that area of the field he can move, he can clear, he has these oriented stops that allow him to move the game on the outside … in that area he is a lot of stuff for us. We’ll see tomorrow, but if he’s not from the start, he’ll give us a hand in the running game.”
BENTEGODI. “I used to talk about it even before with the boys. Verona for me was everything in football terms: I came as a kid in Primavera, then the first team, a lot of emotions and some disappointments. It’s been 260 games one more beautiful than the other. It’s always nice to enter the Bentegodi: it was my home for 14 years, considering also the interlude at Chievo.”
REDEMPTION OF THE FIRST LEG. “Everyone for their own goal, so much is at stake for everyone. They have to get away from that red line and playing at their home we have to at least equalize that desire to get points. We on our side have to maintain that desire to get points to stay at the top, knowing that we are called upon to have to make as few mistakes as possible. Those 7/8, history says, travel at least three times as much as the others. We know what we’re up against and tomorrow, they for one reason we for another.”
Source: TMW
