PRESS CONFERENCE | Mister Nicola after Bologna-Cagliari
At the end of the match at the “Dall’Ara,” Mister Nicola met with the media. These are his words:
THE MATCH ANALYSIS
We played the game we wanted: we were organized in limiting Bologna in the first half, and we knew that if we covered ourselves at the right times, we could hurt them on the counterattack. In the second half, we weren’t able to maintain the right aggression. We need to become more shrewd in reading the game. Bologna is a team that puts you to the test, and you have to win your one-on-ones, which isn’t easy over time. There’s a difference between us and this type of team, and you need to close that gap with conviction and courage. We believed until the end, but it wasn’t enough to get back into the game. We will improve, we’re confident of that. The path is the right one, but we need to have more awareness of what we want to achieve in the long term.
WORKING TO GROW
“Bologna has very important qualities that must be respected, but we, on the other hand, need to grow in all areas: attention, cunning, and occupying spaces at the right times. With some teams, you might get away with it, but with Bologna and other top teams, you get punished. We can grow, I understand it’s not easy for us to play two halves with a high defensive line, but we are working to grow as much as possible. The substitution at halftime? It was planned once Obert was booked; it was also a tactical change, and we decided to make it right away to have an extra slot available.”
MORE DETERMINATION
“I’m sorry because the players are diligent, eager, and focused, but they need to desire to go beyond, to take one more step, to take risks and accept a higher level, like Bologna’s. Sometimes we’re too clean, good, and precise, but we also need to be a bit ‘dirty,’ sharp, and determined. This is the step we need to take. On the first goal, we paid for some indecision, a lack of aggression. We need to recover some energy from certain players, as some are not at their best, but I believe in this group, and I’m convinced we can start picking up points even against such strong teams.”
ON INDIVIDUALS
“Luvumbo? It’s a shame because he showed he could make an impact, he had a good game until he had to come off due to discomfort in his thigh. We’ll need to evaluate him. Pavoletti? I thought about it, but I wanted quality wingers and players who could deliver the ball inside to create chances for fast shots. Leo is extraordinary, but he has more impact when we are constantly in the opponent’s box. I want and need to recover some important players for us, like Gaetano, all players who, with their quality, can make a positive difference.”
FORWARD WITH THE RIGHT MENTALITY
“Cagliari has its identity, and it’s crucial to strongly desire the points, to have the courage to understand what to do, when to interrupt the game, when to waste time, and when to intervene. Only then can you earn points against the odds. But this team has the ability, and it has already proven it against everyone. We recognize that in the last three matches, we’ve faced three very tough games, and this obviously doesn’t satisfy us or make us stop working. Forward with the strength of our ideas, this is the real objective. How do we come out of this trio of games? I think you grow when you face the best. We’ve earned one point in three matches against three strong teams, Piccoli has reached 7 goals, and there are positive signs. It’s not always a matter of brilliance lacking, but also about the opponent. It’s already tough when you’re superior, let alone against certain teams where you can’t afford to make any mistakes. The players always put in the performance. The question we must ask ourselves is what we can do to become more competitive. This will be the theme of the week, the question we need to answer with our work.”
