04 May 2018
GREAT SEASON
“We have 88 points so far, a few more points than at this stage last year and the title race is still open, as Napoli are having an extraordinary season. We will need to show hard work and desire in order to achieve our objectives, we are nearly at the end of the season, as there are just 20 days left and tomorrow we have a game that we have to win and also prepare ourselves for the TIM Cup final.
“Bologna play good football and also have players of quality, they are well organised and will come here and try to give us a good game and attempt to claim what would be for them a historic victory. So we must face tomorrow with great determination and respect, as well as remember the points we dropped in Crotone, so we absolutely cannot underestimate our opponents. Tomorrow is another important step forwards in order to reach the Scudetto.”
THE SAN SIRO TURNAROUND
“The mentality dictates everything, just look at our game against Inter, we had control of the match and then we conceded a goal straight away on a free-kick. The numbers show that we haven’t defended as well as we can lately and have conceded more goals than last year. Tomorrow is a game where we have to be more solid and have to get back to defending at our best, because in the last four we have let in six goals, three from set-pieces.
“Against Inter we stuck at it and believed right until the end that we could score, we had that mental strength to stay in the game despite the scoreline, this shows you that the psychological aspect is always fundamental. Right now you have to have a mental strength and a balance that no one can deter you from the ultimate goal.
“Tomorrow we need the fans getting behind the team and believing in us until the end no matter what. Even if we were to give up a goal in the late stages of the match the fans must stick with us.”
TEAM NEWS FOR BOLOGNA
"Tomorrow Dybala and Higuain will play in attack, they are the two players that we will count on to score the goals to clinch us the Scudetto in the remaining games. Also in attack one of or both of Cuadrado and Douglas Costa will play, in the midfield in place of Pjanic there will be either Marchisio or Bentancur. Buffon will play in goal and then I will go with either two or three in the middle of the defence, I’m yet to decide.
“Mandzukic is out of tomorrow’s game but we hope to have him back fit for the TIM Cup final, Chiellini, Sturaro and De Sciglio are all out. Bernardeschi is doing very well but he doesn’t have 90 minutes in his legs just yet.”
