Italiano Relishes ‘Beautiful Moment’ After Steering Bologna to Their First Semi-Final in 26 Years

For the first time in 26 years, Bologna has reached the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, marking a historic achievement that coach Vincenzo Italiano celebrated following his team’s narrow 1-0 victory over Atalanta on Tuesday.

The side faced difficulties during their Champions League campaign, managing only one win from eight games before being eliminated in the group stage.

However, Italiano believes that the triumph against a top-three Serie A team will serve as a significant morale boost for his players.

“We played with history on the line, and we made it,” Italiano remarked during his press conference.

“This is a wonderful moment that always motivates you to perform at your best.”

The coach noted that winning in Atalanta’s home ground added to the significance of the result.

“I believe this victory enhances our self-esteem and confidence; you can clearly see the growth within the team. The Champions League experience has greatly benefited us—this squad is consistently improving… and it’s never easy to play in Bergamo,” he stated.

Bologna is set to face either Juventus or Empoli, who will compete in the quarter-finals on February 26, for a spot in the finals.

“The club has aspired to progress as far as possible in the Coppa Italia. We’ve reached the first milestone; now we eagerly await our next opponent,” Italiano concluded.