The Rossoblù coach on the eve of the Super Cup final against Napoli: “You have to play them, but if you win them, everything feels different. It’s the eighth one I’ve faced, but my memory is that I’ve always played them with my head held high, trying to honor them. We mustn’t have any regrets.”

From Arzignano, beating Campodarsego on May 26, 2018, in Serie D (playoffs). Since then, Vincenzo Italiano is preparing to experience his eighth final in seven years, the fourth in a row in three years, including his time in Florence. Climbing, ascending, a life on the rise from Serie D to the Coppa Italia last May 14 to this Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Bologna beat Napoli in the league, but that’s another story. “First of all, it’s my first Super Cup final,” says Vincenzo Italiano, “and it’s still exciting, both for me and my staff, even though we’ve played quite a few. You know you’re playing for a lot, the opponent has changed, you need to think about bringing joy to ourselves, our people, and the club. It’s such a different game from all the others that it needs to be approached with a different focus from the rest of the usual games.“

Eto’o said that ”finals aren’t played, they’re won.” “It’s a perfect phrase,” says Italiano, “because when you lose, you feel bad. This is my eighth final. I’ve won some and lost others, but my memories are that we’ve always played them with our heads held high, openly, honoring them. On the field, we’ll try to honor those words because they are sacred. There must be zero mistakes in these games.” De Laurentiis has always appreciated Italiano. “In the past, I had the pleasure of talking to the president,” Italiano continues. “In La Spezia, they told me that the president was coming. I thought it was ours, but instead, De Laurentiis showed up. I respect him. Since he arrived, Napoli has made great strides.”

hear that…—  Only in 1937 did Bologna win two trophies in the same year: the Scudetto and the Paris Trophy, with Arpad Weisz. For Bologna, it would be their first time in the Italian Super Cup. “There’s Napoli, the Italian champions, a very strong team with very strong players,” Italiano continues, “but we have to try not to make any mistakes. The double in 1937? Football is my reason for living. I’ve been playing on the streets in the suburbs since I was born, and then it also became a profession that I do with a smile. Every day, I can’t wait to meet the boys and work with them. In a few years, I’d like to hear people say, ‘The Bologna of De Silvestri, Italiano, etc., etc.’ I’ve heard people talk about the Bologna of Baggio, Signori, and so in a little while, I’d like to join the ranks of the various important Bolognas.“ The Cup is there, in plain sight, twenty centimeters away, on the conference table. ”I looked at the Cup as soon as I sat down: it’s very beautiful in person. It goes without saying that we’re here and we’ve made history. When you play in the final, you want to be the one to lift the trophy. They said it’s forbidden to touch the Cup, but not to look at it… Lineup? Berna got injured, and it’s a big loss for us because Fede was turning things around in every way: two collarbones in one year (the other is Freuler, ed.) is a record, I’ve never heard of that… Certainly, the first eleven can’t be wrong.”
text—  After Bernardeschi’s injury (two months out with a broken collarbone), Italiano has four wingers available: Orsolini and Cambiaghi are likely to start. “Orsolini said that we are here because we are mentally strong,” Italiano continues. In addition to the physical aspect, there is also the mental aspect, being in the game: for example, in the semifinal, down after two minutes against Inter, we continued to give it our all, to be there, attached to everything that would be the dynamics of the game. All the experiences we’ve had in the recent past, including the Champions League, have made us grow. Anxiety? None. We need to recover physically, but I also believe that beating Inter gives you an extra dose of motivation.“
Baggio and Conte—  Baggio and Conte Roberto Baggio is among the great former players invited to the final. ”Roberto also gave us a boost on the night of the Coppa Italia,“ Vincenzo Italiano said, ”that boost served to give us an extra push. We still need it, so if it comes, so much the better. We’re playing a historic match for Bologna: we need to recover all our energy, especially mentally, and prepare well in every respect. We have to play a great game for the people, the city, and the club. Robi is a huge Bologna fan. We already knew him, and if he can give us something extra, well, we’ll gladly take it. Antonio Conte? I remember him when he was coaching Bari and even then, with a different system, he did well, not to mention the championships with Juventus, one without even losing a single game. He is one of the best coaches in the world, he has charisma, he is a great person, and in our profession he has always been a source of inspiration.

We are friends—  As with every important match, here is the captain-elect alongside Italiano, Lorenzo De Silvestri. “Each of us takes on the personality of speaking,” he says, referring to Orsolini’s comment to Heggem about mentality. “From this point of view, it’s nice to hear everyone speaking. Mentally, I’m calm because this is a group where each of us is there for everyone else. What am I preparing for the final? I go with the flow, instinctively. I like to share my experience, but this is a group that has been performing incredibly well mentally for three years, and I’m proud of my teammates. There’s a predisposition to focus, to work as a team, we’re all involved… It’s true that we made history with the Coppa Italia, we looked back at the photos with the guys, but then there’s always the present and there’s always room to raise the bar. And that’s also a source of pride, having helped the club grow. We’re friends and we get along well, whether it’s on or off the pitch: this group has experienced important moments, from Sinisa onwards. Is there pressure? It’s wonderful to experience it.”