Italiano claims Milan are ‘used to’ finals and that Bologna will fix ‘mistakes’ from Serie A loss | OneFootball

Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano has claimed that AC Milan have more experience when it comes to finals, but insisted his side will give everything.

There was an appetiser on Friday night and Milan landed the first punch against Bologna at San Siro in Serie A. The Rossoneri came from 1-0 down – as they so often have under Sergio Conceicao – and eventually emerged 3-1 winners.

Conceicao is very much a cup specialist: as a player he won the Portuguese Cup and the Portuguese Super Cup with Porto, plus the Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and the UEFA Super Cup while he was at Lazio.

In addition to seven cups in his playing career, Conceicao won eight domestic cups (plus three Primeira Liga titles) while manager of Porto too. He even has a trophy while at Milan and it came just a few days into his tenure, that being the Supercoppa Italiana of course.

Italiano, by contrast, has not had as positive experiences. With Fiorentina he lost in the final of the Coppa Italia in 2022-23, the Conference League the same season and then also in the Conference League last season.

The Bologna coach spoke at the Stadio Olimpico conference room on the eve of the game to preview what is a huge clash for his side, with his comments via MilanNews.

How do you experience the historic importance of this final?

“We experience it with great enthusiasm because it is truly what is carrying us, it has accompanied us on this journey in the cup, with a return semi-final with the Dall’Ara packed and with all these people tomorrow who will move to get here to the Olimpico to give us support and try to play a great game.

“After 51 years, Bologna returns to play such an important game. After so many years, so many people will once again see the red and blue colours playing a game to win a trophy like that. So tomorrow, all together, we will try to take another step towards history knowing that we are facing champions, a great team, but we want to play our chances.

“We know we have them, we must also try to pay attention to the qualities of our opponent, but we have all the desire and will to play a great game.”

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Did you imagine you would get here?

“Bologna have shown great growth in recent years. With Saputo we try to grow year after year and there are always confirmations.”

Do you have anything planned in case of victory?

“I said enough with foils, if this miracle happens I want to think about it later. We will organize something, but now maximum attention and concentration. Tomorrow we have all day to shore up and fix something, then we’ll see. But with our heads held high.”

How do you prepare for a game like this?

“They [Milan] are used to it, we are a little less. They have lifted a trophy this year, Bologna hasn’t done it for many years. But every game starts from scratch and let’s forget about what happened on Friday when we only unplugged for fifteen minutes.

“We will propose some different players and I think them too, we will have to play freely, carefree, with happiness and without regrets. We will try to be ready.”

Photo by Simone Arveda/Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images

You lost your last few finals…

“This is my seventh final and just getting there is a great merit. Playing in the finals is great, you get there through a path in which you beat strong teams and amaze. Our presence here was not planned, we did something superlative. The finals are played to win them but just getting there is a satisfaction.

“I have 3 wins and 3 losses, if tomorrow my men want to give me this gift, I would be very happy… But it’s already great. I see the looks on the faces of the boys and how they prepare for the game, but also the affection of the fans is great and we want to give them joy.”

What did you focus on? Will you choose Dallinga or Castro in attack?

“You asked me if facing Milan in the double header could be positive or not, but I am convinced that yes, we will start from scratch, but trying to understand where we went wrong in that final quarter of an hour and instead did well in the rest.

“Every time we made a mistake, we were able to react and express ourselves to the maximum of our ability. I am convinced that tomorrow there will be perception of danger, attention and sacrifice: there is no need for a coach.

“I told the boys that if I stay at home tomorrow, they will still take to the field and give their all. They want to excel, they are constantly growing and tomorrow is a great reward for Lollo [De Silvestri] and his teammates. We must play with lightheartedness.”