Italiano ‘slowly getting back to 100 per cent’ after hospital stay

Vincenzo Italiano is ‘slowly getting back to 100 per cent’ after his hospital stay and insists Bologna will not consider changing tactics for the trip to Udinese.

It kicks off at the Bluenergy Stadium on Saturday at 14.00 GMT.

The Rossoblu have been on a splendid run of form recently, unbeaten in Serie A since September 14, and surging up the table with their 2-0 victory over Napoli.

The coach was not on the bench for the previous few matches, after a spell in hospital for pneumonia, but is getting back to full fitness.

“I am improving, it was a real body blow and I’m still not at my best, but I am slowly getting back to 100 per cent,” said Italiano in his press conference.

“I got worried because I was really not at all well for 10 days. I thank the staff at the Sant’Orsola hospital. I watched the games against Fiorentina and Steaua Bucharest in my hospital room and it was frustrating not being able to be there.

“My assistant Daniel Niccolini and the lads did a great job, continuing our positive results. Now the weather is getting colder too, I need to be careful, but everyone is working so hard.”

Bologna climbed into fifth place in the Serie A standings and hope to make the most of other big games to go even higher.

“It’s good to see, but it is also early days in the season. We’ve got to keep fuelling that enthusiasm and have everyone involved, as the squad rotation is really paying off in having everyone ready to go.”

There are quite a few injury problems for Italiano to deal with, as Remo Freuler, Lukasz Skorupski, Jonathan Rowe, Emil Holm, Nicolò Cambiaghi and Ciro Immobile are all out of action.

“Immobile is pushing harder, but still doesn’t feel at 100 per cent, so by mutual agreement we decided it was better he stay behind and not run any risks. It was a serious injury, so we need to be careful.”

In the absence of both first choice goalkeepers against Napoli, Bologna had to throw 17-year-old Matteo Pessina in for his Serie A debut.

“When I had to fling him on without warning, he was a little alarmed,” confessed Italiano.

“However, after the first couple of touches, he relaxed and grew in confidence. I had no doubts about him, he is always smiling and I congratulate him for how he’s been behaving throughout.”

Despite the number of missing players and changes that are forced upon him, Italiano is standing true to his tactical ideas.

“I don’t think we need to consider changing the system, as at the start of the season we opted for a large squad because we knew these things could happen.”