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. This is 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 must have no 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 over three years, including his time in Florence. Climbing, rising—a rollercoaster ride from Serie D to the Coppa Italia on May 14, all the way to this Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia. Bologna beat Napoli in the league, but that’s a whole other story. “First of all, this is my first Super Cup final,” says Vincenzo Italiano, “and it’s still exciting, both for me and for my staff, even though we’ve played in quite a few. You know there’s a lot at stake; the opponent has changed, so we need to focus on bringing joy to ourselves, our fans, and the club. It’s such a different game from all the others that it must be approached with a different mindset than the usual matchdays.”

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

I hear that…—  Only in 1937 did Bologna win two trophies in the same year: the Scudetto and the Paris Trophy, under Arpad Weisz. For Bologna, in the Italian Super Cup, it would be a first. “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 from 1937? Soccer is my reason for living; I’ve been playing in the streets and suburbs since I was born, and it’s also become a profession I do with a smile—every day I can’t wait to join the guys and work with them. In a few years, I’d like to hear people say, ‘De Silvestri’s Bologna, Italiano’s Bologna, and so on’; I’ve heard people talk about the Bologna of Baggio and Signori, so in a little while I’d like to join the ranks of those great Bologna teams.” The Cup is right there, in plain sight, twenty centimeters away, on the press 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 the final, you want to be the one lifting the trophy. They said you’re not allowed to touch the Cup, but looking at it is fine… Lineup? Berna got hurt, and that’s a huge loss for us, because Fede was turning things around in every way: two broken collarbones in a year (the other is Freuler, ed.) is a record—I’ve never heard of that… Certainly, we can’t get the starting eleven wrong.”
text—  After Bernardeschi’s injury (out for 2 months, fractured collarbone), Italiano has 4 wingers available: Orsolini and Cambiaghi are likely to start. “Orsolini said we’re here because we’re mentally strong,” Italiano continues, “? “Beyond the physical aspect, there’s also the mental aspect—being in the game: for example, in the semifinal, down after two minutes against Inter, we kept giving it our all, staying in it, focused on every aspect of the game’s flow. All the experiences we’ve had in the recent past, including the Champions League, have helped 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 legendary former players and guests invited to the final. “Roberto also gave us a boost on the night of the Coppa Italia,” says Vincenzo Italiano, “that boost helped give us an extra push. We still need it; if it comes, so be it. We’re playing a historic match for Bologna: we need to recharge our energy, especially mentally, and prepare well in every way. We have to put on a great performance for the fans, the city, and the club. Robi is a huge Bologna fan; we’ve met him before, and if he can give us that extra something, well, we’d be happy to have it. Antonio Conte? I remember him when he coached Bari, and even back then, with a different system, he did well—not to mention the league titles with Juve, one of which he won without ever losing a game. He’s one of the best coaches in the world; he has charisma, he’s a great person, and in our profession, he’s always been a source of inspiration.”

we’re friends—  As with every important match, here is the captain-elect alongside Italiano, Lorenzo De Silvestri. “Each of us takes the initiative to speak up,” he says, referring to Orsolini’s comment to Heggem about mentality: “From this perspective, it’s great to hear everyone speaking up. Mentally, I’m at ease because this is a group where each of us is there for everyone. What am I preparing for the final? I’m going with the flow, on instinct; I like to share my experience, but this is a group that has been performing with incredible mental strength for three years, and I’m proud of my teammates. There’s a natural inclination toward focus, toward teamwork—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 a need to raise the bar. And that, too, is a source of pride—having helped the club grow. We’re friends and we get along well, whether on or off the field: this group has experienced important moments, starting with Sinisa. Is there pressure? These moments are wonderful to experience.”