Italiano on Napoli defeat: ‘We fell short in the final third”

Bologna head coach Vincenzo Italiano shared his thoughts following his team’s 3-0 loss to a dominant Napoli side. Despite the scoreline, Italiano believed the result did not accurately reflect the balance of play.

“We played a decent game, but we fell short in the final third,” Italiano stated in his post-match interview with DAZN. He expressed frustration at conceding just before halftime, emphasizing that a team of Bologna’s caliber cannot afford such errors.

Italiano noted the paradoxical nature of the second goal, which came during Bologna’s strongest period of play. “This really cut our legs from under us,” he admitted.

The coach highlighted positive aspects of Bologna’s performance, particularly their ball circulation and pressing. “In terms of pressure, I can’t fault anything. We disrupted all their balls, preventing their build-up from the back,” he explained.

However, Italiano pointed out the team’s lack of clinical finishing, citing a missed opportunity by Castro that could have put Bologna ahead. He remains optimistic about the team’s potential for growth, stating, “I’m convinced we will improve. There’s a long journey ahead together, and we have all the prerequisites to achieve satisfaction.”

Regarding his tactical decisions, Italiano explained his substitutions of Orsolini and Ndoye, noting their fatigue and his attempt to introduce fresh legs to create numerical superiority in one-on-one situations.

In conclusion, Italiano expressed his dissatisfaction with the goals conceded, asserting, “The 3-0 scoreline is excessive and I don’t believe it reflects the flow of a match that was largely balanced for long stretches.”