Italiano: “Winning at home was a liberation for Bologna”

Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano expressed his relief and joy after his team secured a 1-0 victory against Lecce at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. The win marked Bologna’s second consecutive Serie A triumph and coincided with Lewis Ferguson’s return from injury.

Speaking to DAZN after the match, Italiano said, “It was a liberation because it’s a home victory that we’ve been missing for a long time. We sought it out without haste and with patience until the last ball. We anticipated this kind of match and prepared to attack with many men inside the area. We also wanted to win without conceding a goal. In the end, it’s okay for the coach to vent sometimes because the tension was high. I’m very happy, and we dedicate this to our fans.”

Italiano acknowledged areas for improvement, stating, “This team still has many aspects to fix, and one is against teams that look to counter-attack, close down every play, and force you to make rushed decisions. We’re one of the teams that makes the most mistakes in the opponent’s half, and this exposes us to risks and counterattacks. We need to make fewer mistakes, create more one-on-one situations on the wings, and generate more goal-scoring opportunities.”

The Bologna coach also commented on young player Urbanski’s performance: “Today he had a chance where a player of his quality should have closed out the game. He still needs to mature a lot, but he can play as a midfielder, attacking midfielder, and double pivot. He has extraordinary intelligence for his age. He needs to work, but in my opinion, he has enormous potential.”