Bologna Vs Inter Milan – Ex AC Milan Midfielder Heaps Praise On Nerazzurri: “Intense, We Need To Raise Our Standards” | OneFootball

Bologna midfielder Tommaso Pobega has praised Inter Milan ahead of Friday’s Supercoppa Italiana semi-final tie.

Speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport via FCInter1908, the Italian midfielder urged his teammates to bring their A-game to the table.

Bologna stunned AC Milan in last season’s Coppa Italia final, securing their first trophy in 51 years.

Therefore, Vincenzo Italiano’s men have booked their place in the Supercoppa Italiana for the first time.

However, adding to their dusty trophy cabinet could prove a rather Herculean task.

Indeed, the Rossoblu must overcome familiar foes, Inter, in the semi-finals.

Despite their status as pre-match underdogs, Bologna can draw confidence from their recent record against the Nerazzurri.

Italiano’s charges have avoided defeat in five of the last six meetings between the sides.

Therefore, they’ll likely take the pitch with optimism, looking to stop Cristian Chivu from winning his first title as Inter manager.

Bologna Midfielder Tommaso Pobega Hails Inter Milan

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 22: Henrikh Mkhitaryan of FC Internazionale celebrates with the Italian EA Sports FC Supercup Final trophy at full-time following victory in the Italian EA Sports FC Supercup Final match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Al-Awwal Stadium on January 22, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

Pobega graduated from AC Milan’s academy, meaning he will have an added incentive to hamper Inter’s title quest in Riyadh.

However, the 26-year-old insists he doesn’t think that way.

“I’m not thinking about that, but about facing this semi-final,” Pobega said.

“There’s a strong desire to play it and to win.

“Has Bologna beaten the Nerazzurri often recently? Chivu’s team is intense, physical, and technical.

“And we need to raise some of our performance standards, multiply our focus.

“They know how to handle certain moments, and we face them with the idea of highlighting our strengths, staying in the game at all times, and always aiming to be better.”

Bologna got the better of Inter in their last meeting, eking out a narrow 1-0 win at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara in April.

However, this will be the first clash between the sides since Chivu took charge of the Nerazzurri.