Bologna coach Italiano keeps faith in Rowe: ‘His goals will arrive soon’

Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano has backed Jonathan Rowe to come good in front of goal, insisting the winger’s contributions will soon be reflected on the scoresheet.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Bologna’s clash with Inter, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb, Italiano admitted his side are going through a difficult spell in attack, but stressed that patience is required.

He pointed to recent matches as evidence that performances have not always been matched by end product.

“We’re not living a great moment going forward,” Italiano said. “Take Orsolini against Sassuolo, he had four shots without scoring. But I’m convinced we’ll unlock ourselves. Goals will come, including for Rowe.”

The Bologna coach also referenced the absence of Federico Bernardeschi at a time when the winger had been in strong form, confirming the club are prepared to wait for his return. Despite the current struggles, Italiano remains confident the situation will turn.

“What makes the difference is who puts the ball in the net. Right now we’re a bit stuck, but we’ll get going again.”

On Rowe specifically, Italiano urged calm when assessing his progress. The winger had begun to build momentum before suffering an injury earlier in the season, something the coach believes has slowed his adaptation.

“When he was feeling good and raising his level, he got injured against Napoli,” Italiano explained. “It’s not easy to come back from injuries like that. But I liked him against Sassuolo, he’s growing, strong in one-v-one situations and able to get out of difficult moments. He needs time, because the quality is there.”

Italiano also left the door open to January reinforcements, confirming Bologna will remain alert to opportunities. “If there’s a chance to add quality, we won’t step back,” he said. “The club is attentive, and if the right opportunity comes, they’ll act.”