Serginho sends warning to Milan ahead of final against ‘dangerous’ Bologna | OneFootball

Serginho has warned AC Milan that if they go to sleep for certain parts of the game against Bologna, they will lose the Coppa Italia final.

There is a lot of talk about the final at the Stadio Olimpico being a season-defining game for Milan. Given that Champions League football has vanished, winning the cup is the best route into Europe given a Europa League spot will go to the victors.

The last Coppa Italia won by Milan bears Serginho’s signature. He scored two goals in the first leg, namely in the 4-1 victory away to Roma, and he got the assist for Rivaldo’s goal in the return leg, played three days after lifting the Champions League in the final in Manchester against Juventus.

There are many sub-plots to the game, and Bologna have their own drought to end. The Brazilian spoke in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport in which he revisited that cup final and also offered some advice to the current team in view of Wednesday’s game.

Sergio, let’s start with your victory in 2003…

“The first leg was a difficult match because a few days later we had the Champions League final. Milan hadn’t won the Coppa Italia for a long time and the club wanted to lift it, but it was difficult not to think about Manchester: the Champions League was on everyone’s mind…

“Our luck was that we had a great group, made up of many important players. Ancelotti managed the energy well and at the Olimpico we won 4-1 with two goals from me. That result allowed us to take to the field in the return leg more relaxed.”

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The first goal was a penalty, the second came after a great move…

“A great assist from Brocchi, with me cutting between Zago and Cafu before scoring with the outside of my left foot, like a true striker (laughs),”

Then, a double celebration…

“We played three days after the Manchester final, with two days of celebration and two training sessions in our legs. In the first half we were 2-0 down because mentally and psychologically we were squeezed by the match with Juve.

“Against a strong Roma, we had some fears, but then Rivaldo and Inzaghi closed the matter.”

Milan-Bologna will be a one-off match and it comes after the Rossoneri’s victory on Friday…

“Milan have confirmed that they are a great team but over the course of ninety minutes they have ups and downs, blackouts that you can’t afford.

“Unfortunately, the problem has been recurring all season and the risk in a couple of weeks is to find ourselves outside the top four in the standings by one or two points. I still hope for a Champions League comeback, but it’s not easy.”

What do you think of Bologna?

“A dangerous and organised team, coming off a season in which they showed good football. They have an attacking mentality and way of playing: Milan had confirmation of this for over an hour on Friday.”

What will the Rossoneri have to do?

“Express themselves at 100%. A Milan at 80% will not be enough to win. We need a performance with the intensity shown on Friday, when there was the comeback.”

With the switch to 3-4-3, do the Diavolo also convey more confidence to you?

“Conceiçao is good and he had to solve several problems with the little time he had to work from January onwards. At Milan, if you don’t win, it’s normal to be criticised, but closing this season with two cups wouldn’t be a bad result.”

Who do Bologna have to be afraid of?

“The offensive line: against those four up front you can’t get distracted because if you sleep, they punish you. Castro is strong, but I also really like Orsolini.”

Who can be decisive for Milan?

“Pulisic had a decline between February and March, but now he’s back in shape. And then Leao, who for me is the most decisive player in the squad: his numbers speak for themselves.”

Beyond the tactical aspect, what is fundamental in a final?

“Finding motivation is easy, but the most complicated thing is managing tension: if you have too much of it, it steals your energy and can become your real enemy. You have to think that after all… it’s just a football match.

“Ancelotti was very good at preparing the team for the finals and he gave us a sense of calm. He did it really well in Manchester and Athens. Gattuso, Pirlo and Nesta felt the finals more and maybe the night before they slept little and badly.

“We Brazilians, on the other hand, were calmer. By nature I would say… The phenomenon Ronaldo, for example, was calm before a final as if he were playing a friendly.”

What message do you want to send to Milan ahead of the final?

“Do as we did and bring the Coppa Italia back to Milan after 22 years. No predictions, but I have faith in the Rossoneri.”