Italiano: Bologna Climbed a Mountain, Now Underdogs with Aston Villa Too

Vincenzo Italiano, Bologna's head coach, expressed his pride after their Europa League quarter-final qualification, stating that Roma was "superior in every way," yet Bologna "climbed a mountain" to advance. He acknowledged that his team would similarly be "underdogs" in their upcoming clash against Aston Villa.

The Rossoblu, as Bologna is known, will now face Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-finals, entering the tie once again as the perceived underdogs, much like they did in their recent all-Italian derby against Roma.

Italiano told Sky Sport Italia, "We have already played Aston Villa twice on their home ground, so we approach this knowing we're the underdogs. However, we will prepare thoroughly and aim to achieve something extraordinary once more."

The first leg is scheduled for April 9 at the Stadio Dall'Ara, with the return fixture at Villa Park a week later.

Italiano Praises Bologna's Triumph in Rome

Italiano commented on the electrifying stadium atmosphere, acknowledging they faced a formidable opponent. "I had stated our odds were 49-51 against us, but we managed to reverse them and progress in a significant European competition," he remarked. "The match was wonderful; we are truly delighted to have come here and achieved what we did, which felt like climbing a mountain. I can only commend the lads for an extraordinary performance, as securing a win in such an atmosphere against this Roma team was a remarkable accomplishment."

Bologna maintained their advantage throughout the tie, despite conceding an equalizer for a 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Stadio Dall'Ara. They then took the lead in the second leg with Jonathan Rowe's stunning goal.

At one point, Bologna held a commanding 3-1 lead at the Stadio Olimpico, thanks to Federico Bernardeschi's penalty and a goal from Santiago Castro. However, they allowed Roma to claw back to a 3-3 draw, pushing the game into extra time.

In extra time, fresh legs proved crucial, with substitute Nicolò Cambiaghi delivering the decisive finish from an incredibly tight angle.

Italiano elaborated, "We initially struggled for the first 20 minutes to maintain pressure on Roma, but then we began to gain control in their half and execute our game plan more effectively. Once a match enters extra time, the first goal often decides it, and we were fortunate enough to score that goal."

The Stadio Olimpico continues to be a favorable ground for Bologna, recalling their jubilant celebrations there last year when they defeated Milan in the Coppa Italia Final, securing their first trophy in 51 years.

Italiano's strong track record in cup competitions is evident, having guided Fiorentina to two Conference League Finals and a Coppa Italia Final before his tenure at Bologna.

"I simply aim to honor every competition to the best of our ability, with the right spirit, preparation, and maximum effort," Italiano explained. "The path in these tournaments isn't excessively long, so we strive to devise strategies that trouble our opponents, even if they appear superior on paper. We navigated a challenging group stage, triumphed in a difficult play-off, and today defeated a team that is, by all measures, superior to us. Nevertheless, playing your cards optimally leads to such outcomes."

While Italiano conducted his post-match interviews, Bologna players continued their celebrations beneath the section of jubilant away supporters in the stands.

Italiano chuckled, "I had to quickly leave the lads amidst their celebrations because, ever since my bout with pneumonia, the doctor insists I immediately get back to warmth and bundle up."

Earlier in the season, the coach had been hospitalized for a week with pneumonia, necessitating him to direct some of his team's training sessions remotely.