The news is that Vincenzo Italiano is in a hurry. Not in the press room, where yesterday he gave himself without veils and, above all, without blocking up the numerous questions: Italiano is in a hurry in the rankings.
Listen to his message: “Compared to those ahead of us, we are a little behind, but until a few games ago the delay was huge. Now we come from three wins in a row and we are enthusiastic: if we want to catch up with those ahead of us, or at least keep up with them, we must follow up on these results and further improve our performances”. The idea of an Italian who looks to the noble areas of the standings is excellent news for those who do not resign themselves to the idea that Bologna, having put together a dream season, must resign themselves to a year of transition, regrets and useless comparisons with the past.
Tonight at the Olimpico, however, the test is a tough one. Baroni’s Lazio is an almost perfect machine that has won 10 of its last 11 games. The Biancocelesti have not been this close to touching the top spot since 2020, even if today they are challenging a Bologna that has only lost on the second day of the championship, in the away match in Naples on August 25 (0-3), and that in the following three months has strung together 9 useful results in a row. Solidity is the key word: but also group.
“Bear who climbed on my shoulder to celebrate in Rome left me with a backache – he says with an Italian smile –. But this is a healthy group. One for all and all for one: and there are three or four coaches on the field, not just De Silvestri”.
The discussion slides to ‘Lollo’ because the rossoblù amulet (4 games as a starter and as many victories) could win again today in the ballot with Posch in a defense that between the posts loses Skorupski (flu) and promotes Ravaglia. But with the many close matches that, between the championship, Champions League and Coppa Italia, await the rossoblù from now until the end of January “everyone must be on edge”, warns Italiano.
Including those who, at this moment, are chasing in the hierarchies. The thought goes to Dallinga, who also today risks starting from the bench.
“I told him that a striker with his qualities must live for the goal and always try, even in training, without losing the necessary hunger,” says Italiano.
Postscript: “Thijs told me the ketchup theory, something that comes from an old coach of his, and I have to say that he convinced me”. In other words: to get the ketchup out sometimes you have to struggle, banging on the jar, but as soon as the ketchup comes out (translated: the first goal arrives) he doesn’t stop anymore.
There is also the amarcord corner: “Baroni was my teammate at Verona (in addition to having had him as assistant coach when Malesani was on the Hellas bench, ed.). During the retreat I would lock myself in his room to hear stories about Maradona, of whom I was a huge fan and who had been his teammate at Napoli. It will be wonderful to meet Baroni again”.
And it would be even better to beat him.
