“This Incredible Year Is Crowned With This Trophy, Which Is What These Fans Deserved”

Written By Onyeka Daniel

It was a joyous scene in Rome at the Stadio Olimpico for Bologna players and their fans after they lifted their first major trophy in 51 years with a 1-0 win over AC Milan in the Coppa Italia Final and it was a perfect game plan executed by the players few days after they had met.

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These teams had faced off on Friday in Serie A and there, the Rossoneri fought back from a goal down to win 3-1, but Vincenzo Italiano seemingly learned those lessons and did not fumble the advantage again as the former Fiorentina manager admitted that they knew what Milan would do.

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Hence, he felt that they deserved the Coppa Italia title, with a special dedication for his Fiorentina past. The Rossoblu had not even played in a Final for 51 years, winning the trophy in 1970 and 1974, and were not considered the favourites going into the encounter.

However, Dan Ndoye struck from 11 yards just shy of the hour mark and Lukasz Skorupski made a double save in the first half, but otherwise was relatively untroubled by Milan. This brings silverware back to Rossoblu, but also guarantees their qualification for the Europa League next season.

Though they’re still in the running to qualify for a Champions League spot too. “After some disappointments, I think we deserved this, especially as we played a great game tonight. It was an incredible performance, we knew once again what Milan would do in the second half, so we responded,” Italiano told Sport Mediaset.

“This incredible year is crowned with this trophy, which is what these fans deserved.” Italiano had reached three Finals with Fiorentina in the space of two years, losing the Conference League twice and the Coppa Italia once. “Those too were three very big disappointments.”

“I didn’t honestly think I could get straight back out there and win it, but I did. I dedicate it to these lads, who are extraordinary,” noted the coach. “I also want to send a dedication to Joe Barone’s family, because his son sent me a message this morning and I was immensely pleased.”

“We came so close to lifting silverware with him too and they mean a lot to me.” Joe Barone was the director at Fiorentina who had a heart attack in the team hotel hours before a Serie A match and died in hospital a few days later in March 2024. Italiano took over from Thiago Motta at Bologna and had not been expected to do this well.

Instead, he impressed in the Champions League and Serie A before lifting the Coppa Italia trophy. “We had a few initial difficulties, but then have been going from strength to strength, both as individuals and a unit. Now please let me go and celebrate, because this is incredible,” he smiled in reply.

Meanwhile, Ndoye and Santiago Castro celebrated the victory to their first trophy since 1974. “Today is incredible, seeing all our fans in this stadium. It was a tough game, but we won for the city, for the fans, it’s incredible and we are so happy,” Ndoye told Sport Mediaset.

“We scored at the right time, then defended like a real team, we held tough.” This is the third Coppa Italia trophy in Bologna’s history after 1970 and 1974. For Castro, he had been expected to only be on the bench after several weeks of being a substitute due to a foot injury.

The one he sustained on international duty, but instead he was leading the attack on the night. “I worked hard, I got hurt at an important part of the season, we worked with the physios and doctors,” Castro told Sport Mediaset. The striker pointed out that Bologna were doubted after Thiago Motta left for Juventus.

Then Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori moved to England. “It was a great Coppa Italia competition overall, and a great performance tonight. When we started, few expected us to get here, as many big players left, but we proved this is a family and we broke records.”

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“Now we want to push and get into the Champions League too.” He was asked to say something about their coach. “Vincenzo Italiano is the Boss! We thank all the staff, they are incredible. We also want to dedicate it to the players who left in January, like Iling Junior and Posch, because they are still part of the family.”

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