Italiano: ‘Bologna must battle for every ball’ in Coppa Italia
Vincenzo Italiano outlines where Bologna must be more alert and effective if they are to break the crisis against Lazio in the Coppa Italia quarter-final. ‘We must battle for every ball.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara on Wednesday at 20.00 GMT (21.00 CET).
The winners will be decided after 90 minutes or go directly to a penalty shoot-out, as there is no provision for extra time.
Whoever emerges will then go on to play Atalanta in a two-legged semi-final.
Italiano dealing with Bologna crisis
Although Bologna are the reigning Coppa Italia holders and reached the Supercoppa Italiana Final, losing to Napoli in December, their recent Serie A form has been dismal.
Since the start of December, they scraped just one Serie A victory, three draws and eight defeats, crumbling 1-0 at home to Parma over the weekend.
“We must battle for every ball, knowing that any situation can become favourable, for example in the build-up to the Christian Ordonez goal for Parma,” said Italiano in his press conference.
“This is when we need determination and presence. I ask all the players to read the game, to have a greater sense of danger.
“We also must create more scoring opportunities, that is the key to emerging from this difficult moment. We know the path that we have to take.”
Balancing Serie A, the Coppa Italia, Europa League and Supercoppa Italiana is proving to be quite a strain on Bologna’s resources this season.
“What surprised me the most is how much energy we waste, we are struggling to recover from one match to the next. Our focus has to be on preparation and studying the opponents.”
Lazio have changed quite a bit in the January transfer window, with some players leaving and others like Kenneth Taylor and Petar Ratkov arriving.
“Lazio achieved a great result against an on form Juventus at the weekend, but Maurizio Sarri and I know each other well. We’ve got to put in an impeccable performance if we are to reach the semi-final,” concluded Italiano.
Torbjorn Heggem and Lorenzo De Silvestri are out of action.
Bologna squad for Lazio
Pessina, Ravaglia, Skorupski, Casale, Helland, Lucumì, Joao Mario, Miranda, Vitik, Zortea, Ferguson, Freuler, Moro, Pobega, Sohm, Bernardeschi, Cambiaghi, Castro, Dallinga, Dominguez, Odgaard, Orsolini, Rowe