Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano held a press conference following the goalless draw against Udinese in the 34th round of Serie A. Bologna`s next challenge will be at home against Juventus, a direct competitor for a crucial league position (implicitly, for Champions League qualification).
Here are his translated comments:
`We still have four more “finals.” We need to be more focused if we want to finish ahead of someone. In every game, you need that decisive spark. Orsolini usually finds it; today he came close. The second half, however, made me happy. Any lingering effects [from previous matches]? No, there are none. We are playing for a lot in the league, and we must stay concentrated there. If our season were already over, that would be one thing, but everything is still open for us, and we are being attentive.`
Was the Udinese match a missed opportunity?
`Many games seem straightforward, but it`s tough against everyone in Serie A. Udinese might not have specific objectives, but they are a good team. I appreciate players who come off the bench and help us change the outcome of matches. We often find energy from substitutions, and in this final month, that can be an important factor.`
How is Ndoye?
`Ndoye`s injury is frustrating. It happened during a 5-v-5 drill; I had him doing a static rebound, he was hit by the ball and felt a twinge. It`s a minor issue in the quadriceps. I hope he can recover in a couple of weeks. He provides that burst that we lacked in the first half today. However, Orso (Orsolini) and Cambiaghi also have those capabilities. All the games I`ve played against Udinese have been tightly contested. Let`s focus on the upcoming matches; the next one is a decisive fixture (a “playoff”).`
Did you consider substituting Lucumi at halftime, like against Atalanta?
`He needs to understand that when he is focused, he can perform like he did against Inter – with correct readings, quality in his play. He needs to work mentally. Nothing is guaranteed; sometimes he relies too much on his physical strength and speed. He is a defender; if he makes a mistake, you can lose games. He must have the ability to never switch off. Cambiaghi`s intervention at the end of the game was different compared to the match against Juventus; I liked it. A bit of experience was helpful.`