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Riccardo Orsolini hails Vincenzo Italiano as the best coach in Italy, as Bologna surpasses last season’s form despite losing Thiago Motta and key players.
Bologna have taken Serie A by storm once again, and this time it’s under a new name in the dugout—Vincenzo Italiano, who has earned the full backing of his players and fans after seamlessly taking over from Thiago Motta.
Last season, Motta led Bologna to historic Champions League qualification, only to leave for Juventus in the summer. But things haven’t gone as planned for the Brazilian-Italian tactician in Turin, while Bologna have not just maintained but even improved their league form without him.
Despite losing key stars like Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori to Manchester United and Arsenal, respectively, Bologna’s summer signings have slotted in perfectly. Under Italiano, the team is more aggressive, more vertical, and tactically sharper.
Riccardo Orsolini, the team’s standout performer this season with 11 goals and 4 assists in 28 appearances, didn’t hesitate to praise his manager: “You want a headline for the front page? Okay, here you go: Vincenzo Italiano is the best coach in Italy!”
He continued: “He came in after a season when Motta had a historic year, but he still took the job and even improved us. Tactically we are better. Ndoye already has seven goals, Odgaard plays like a top ten player in the world. We defend higher, the wings contribute more…”
Italiano has quickly made his mark at the club after previously managing Fiorentina. Now, with Bologna still firmly in the hunt for another Champions League finish, fans have completely moved on from the departures—and are dreaming even bigger.