Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano was left searching for answers after his team surrendered a 1-0 lead to lose 3-1 against AC Milan. The defeat came just days before the two sides are set to meet again in the Coppa Italia final.
Despite fielding a rotated lineup, Bologna took an early lead through Riccardo Orsolini. However, AC Milan mounted a comeback with substitute Santiago Gimenez scoring twice and Christian Pulisic adding a third.
Italiano expressed his frustration, particularly with the impact of his substitutions: “Usually our substitutes energize the team, but this time it was Milan`s changes that made the difference. We had control and chances to extend our lead, but then suffered an inexplicable 15-minute blackout.”
The manager acknowledged the need to analyze what went wrong, especially with the crucial cup final approaching: “We`ll examine this closely because we need a different approach from our bench players on Wednesday. I was pleased with how we started the match.”
Bologna`s Recent Struggles
The defeat continues a concerning trend for Bologna, who have collected just two points from their last three Serie A matches. This dip in form has hurt their chances of securing a top-four finish.
Italiano remained optimistic about using this setback as motivation: “The disappointment is natural and a good sign. It means we`ll approach Wednesday differently and learn from our mistakes, which were concentrated in those final 15 minutes plus stoppage time.”
Looking Ahead to the Cup Final
Despite the loss, Italiano sees the upcoming Coppa Italia final as a historic opportunity for Bologna: “This match will be part of the club`s history. We rested some key players to keep them fresh. We have four days to prepare, and I saw a great Bologna performance for 70 minutes today before it all went wrong.”
He added, “The final is enormously important. We`ve already made history by reaching this stage, so winning would be the icing on the cake. We`ve shown great character and intensity in 2025. It`s a massive game for the club and the city, so we won`t approach it with the wrong attitude.”
Italiano concluded by acknowledging the challenge ahead: “We know we`re facing a great team, so we must avoid repeating certain mistakes.”