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September 17, 2024
As Bologna prepares for their long-awaited return to the Champions League, both coach Vincenzo Italiano and Shakhtar Donetsk’s sporting director Darijo Srna are brimming with confidence. Italiano is optimistic about his team’s abilities, especially at home, while Srna emphasizes his squad’s readiness to face the challenge. The match is expected to be exciting as both sides aim to make their mark on the prestigious stage.
Bologna manager Vincenzo Italiano shared his excitement and determination as the team gears up for their UEFA Champions League return after a 60-year hiatus. The Italian side will face Shakhtar Donetsk at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on Wednesday, September 18, with kickoff set for 18:45 local time.
Italiano stated during the pre-match press conference, “There’s great emotion facing such a prestigious competition. I’ve had the opportunity in these two years to be the protagonist of a journey that led me to two finals. It’s a path that makes you grow and allows you to find great insights to improve.”
The Bologna coach highlighted the event’s importance: “We’ll go to beautiful stadiums against opponents who have dictated the law in Europe. It will be a journey to be experienced fully. We don’t want to be mere spectators; we want to challenge everyone.”
Italiano recognized the intense competition but expressed confidence in his team’s skills, particularly in home matches. “The level will be high; we’re facing an opponent who has been playing in this competition for many years. Playing at home is an advantage, and here we must assert who we are,” he asserted.
Bologna forward Riccardo Orsolini expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming match, stating, “It will be a great opportunity for everyone. We must prove that we deserve to be in this competition.” He also mentioned the team’s efforts to manage pre-match tension, adding, “Finding strategies to ease the tension is important with these types of matches. The coach and staff are helping us a lot to grow, and these games can only benefit us.”
Although not part of the Champions League squad, team captain Lorenzo De Silvestri voiced his support for the team. “Being left out makes me feel a bit bad, but on the other hand, I feel so integrated that I believe I can help right away. I’m happy that Italiano invited me to this press conference. I feel like a true Bolognese in every way,” he said.
Darijo Srna, former Cagliari player and now sporting director of Shakhtar Donetsk, discussed his team’s upcoming Champions League match against Bologna in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. Despite the difficulties the Ukrainian club is facing, Srna remains hopeful about their prospects and shared insights on what to expect.
“We live day by day and hope this war that benefits no one ends soon so we can return to normal life,” Srna said, reflecting on Shakhtar’s current circumstances. Since 2014, the team has had to play their home matches away from Donetsk due to the Russian invasion of Donbass and Crimea.
Srna detailed the club’s approach to bringing in young Brazilian talent: “Just the name Shakhtar is enough. I don’t make promises or lie to families or agents. They know the political situation here but also that we play football and live anyway. Everyone knows that if they do well with us, they’ll end up at a top club.”
On the upcoming match against Bologna, Srna stated, “Bologna is strong, but they’re making their Champions League debut. We’ll have a 50% chance of winning. It doesn’t matter to us that Bologna hasn’t started the league well; this match is historic for them. It will be a celebration.”
As they prepare for their match against Atalanta, Srna commended Gian Piero Gasperini: “Gasperini is a phenomenon, very strong, even more so after winning the Europa League. But let’s take it one step at a time.”
Recalling his time in Italy with Cagliari, Srna shared his fond memories: “Everything was positive, I miss my Sardinia so much, I had a great time there. I recently spoke with Giulini, we’re friends, and now he wants to organize a friendly with Shakhtar.”
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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