Sacchi: Bologna play ‘the best football’ in Serie A

Arrigo Sacchi says Vincenzo Bologna’s Italiano is the team that plays ‘the best football in Serie A.’

Former Italy coach Sacchi was full of praise for Italiano’s Bologna in his latest column for Gazzetta dello Sport.

“If a foreign tourist, a true lover of beautiful football, were to ask me which team to go to watch in Italy, I’d have no doubts: Bologna, coached by Vincenzo Italiano,” wrote the ex-Italian tactician.

“Right now, they are by far the team playing the best football, and what’s even more impressive is that they’re doing it after a season in which they won the Coppa Italia, dazzled everyone, and could easily have fallen into the trap of complacency.

“I’ve been following Italiano since his days on the Spezia bench. I even recommended him to Sassuolo years ago, but nothing came of it. Then Vincenzo went to Fiorentina, where, in a challenging environment, he managed with patience and method to achieve solid results.

“If that foreign tourist went to the Dall’Ara Stadium, he might even feel like he’s in Italy or that he’s watching a Serie A match. Bologna play with a European mindset and footballing philosophy.

“You can see how much they run and how much they sacrifice. They play with one idea in mind: collective football.”

Bologna have earned 21 points in 11 matches and are just one point below a Champions League spot.

On Sunday, they beat defending champions Napoli 2-0 at the Stadio Dall’Ara.

“They dominated from start to finish, they gave away no space, pressed relentlessly, forced their opponents on the back foot, took possession of the ball, and never let it go. How many teams in Italy play like that? Very few,” Sacchi continued.

“When I watch Bologna, my eyes fill with joy. I see overlapping runs down the wings, perfectly timed central movements, high pressing, forwards who sprint into space even without the ball at their feet. And finally, I see a compact side, thirty meters long, at most, which means better communication between the likes and immediate help when mistakes happen. Doubling up on a mark is easier when you’re close together, but somehow that simple truth still eludes many Italian teams.

“Beyond formations, what I admire the most is how fluid they are. Players constantly rotate and interchange, creating confusion for opposing defenders,” Sacchi continued.

“The 4-2-3-1 can instantly become a 4-3-3 with wingers pushing up and the playmaker dropping deeper, or a 4-5-1 when they need to defend and crowd their own half. Italiano is a vertical coach. He loves quick transitions and seeks depth, knowing that if you reach the opposition’s box quickly, you’re more likely to catch defenders off guard. Many coaches, or aspiring ones, should study his Bolobna carefully because achieving such synchronisation and structure is no small feat.

“Once again, go watch Bologna, you won’t regret it.”