The Emilians, in Lisbon, prepare for Wednesday’s match against the Portuguese by celebrating the Coach: “Dallinga plays, I made a joke to him…”
They grabbed him in the middle and…handfuls. Light and affectionate. “And not too strong, otherwise…” he smiles as he walks on the Da Luz lawn. Forty-seven years old today and wearing a red down jacket, in the middle of the field in the finishing session before reaching Lisbon, holding a sheet of paper with the day’s menu in his hand to prepare for the battle which – now yes, now really – has the grains of sand from the last beach. Today Vincenzo Italiano had his birthday and the team celebrated him as one would do with an old teammate (and this also gives a positive signal for the existing group…); tomorrow, the cake is called Benfica (8 victories in a row) and the candles are above all explosive candles because between Di Maria, Pavlidis, Cabral, Akturkoglu, Otamendi and whoever with them will give a classy explosion to Da Luz (a flight of eagles is expected as pre-match choreography), mythical stadium in which Bologna seeks a difficult but historic first victory in the Champions League. “Benfica have great players, inside this stadium it is difficult for everyone because they make everyone triple, it will be another exam, another test bench. The gift I would like for my birthday? In this Champions League journey I have always said that this team has the ability to come out of difficult moments, we will have to take inspiration and grow from here. Let’s pay attention, apply: football is strange and leaves room for any surprise, so let’s see what we can get…”. The first victory is a fixed point.
It’s Dallinga’s turn
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At the last moment Miranda was also injured, joining Orsolini, Lykogiannis, Aebischer and those who are not on the Champions list. We’re missing a strong left winger, the one who will go against Di Maria. Hypothesis Holm moved to the left-handed flank, Corazza or – and above all – Lucumi who occupied the left-handed flank in two matches during Motta’s time. Certainly, it is Dallinga’s turn, while Castro will be preserved for Fiorentina. “It’s right that Thijs has the chance to unlock himself – says Italiano – and I think I’ll give him this opportunity. I made a joke to him: I don’t even know how you rejoice… He starts from the beginning, yes. And more than him, we are the ones who want to see Dallinga unlock himself: goals are not a factor, but we must try to unlock him, and we know that he came very close. What if I will change formation due to the lack of left backs? No, I will adapt someone, a right footer who can also play on the left wing. Juan Miranda did not feel free due to a calf and since there is an important match on Sunday (Fiorentina, ed.) it was not considered appropriate to risk it. I’ve seen all Benfica’s matches: there was an unlucky match against Feyenoord; but this Benfica if you let him play is devastating. I repeat again, we were unlucky in the draw due to the teams of great quality and reputation that we drew, but we still want to play a great match.”
ranking
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Bologna also plays for the UEFA Ranking, which offers the top two footballing nations fifth place in the Champions League and consequently eighth place in the Conference League: that place which Bologna currently aspires to. Among other things, it is a challenge within the challenge: at the moment, behind England at the top of the table, there is Portugal, which distances Italy by a few points: drawing or even winning would give Bologna and the Italian system a boost more for the Europe to come. “Have we seen a more personal Bologna in recent weeks? We saw more understanding, more awareness, we are showing what we want, to never really give up and I am happy with the responses, like that of Pobega who reacted with two goals after the foolishness in Rome. If we want to grow and improve further we must focus on the mistakes made. Avoid conceding too many goals, let’s try to play with the same intensity. Tomorrow our fate in the Champions League will be decided and we are sorry that we are missing, among others, Orsolini.”
two goals post madness
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Also with Italian is Tommaso Pobega who, after the foolishness that occurred at home against Lazio, scored two goals against Monza and Juventus last Sunday. “Benfica is strong but we know that we have firm and precise principles – says the former Milan player -. What went through my head after the episode against Lazio? I don’t know, it was more of a slip, perhaps madness, I wasn’t clear-headed and that match cost me dearly, luckily in football there’s always the next match and I hope to continue with the third goal too. The strategy for Di Maria? We know that, besides him, there are many players of talent and strength, we will have to give each other help, maintaining high intensity and pressure to do our best. What if the draw against Juventus can give us a boost? We had a lot of good performances, that draw stayed with us a bit, we wanted and could have won.”
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