Bologna boss Sinisa Mihajlovic admits he wanted to beat Inter at all costs because the Nerazzurri had tried to win the game by default: ‘It made me angry.’
The former defender took his first press conference today since the beginning of the second cycle of leukaemia treatment announced at the end of March. Bologna remained unbeaten while their coach was at the Sant’Orsola hospital and beat Inter in a potentially decisive game for the title race.
The game was rescheduled in January after Bologna had been placed into quarantine by the local health authorities because of a COVID outbreak in the team. However, they had mistakenly added their line-up into the Lega Calcio system, convincing Inter to demand a win by default with several appeals, which were all rejected. Mihajlovic has now revealed why he cared about that game so much.
“I felt that too many took it for granted. Inter wanted to win it by default and this made me angry,” he said, as quoted by Tuttomercatoweb.
“I said it to my players before the game: ‘They tried to win the game off the pitch because they know that they’ll never make it on the pitch.’
“I love Inter and I have great respect for them, including for Simone Inzaghi, but I was disturbed by their attitude before the game. I couldn’t sleep at night. I didn’t want what everyone took for granted to happen.”
Who does he support in the title race?
“I hoped Napoli would win it, but between Inter and Milan, I have no preferences. I like the way Napoli play, the passion their fans have. It would have been good for Italian football to see Napoli win the title.”
“I’ve missed you, you are a necessary evil,” he told journalists, smiling.
“When you go through certain moments, you miss things you’d never imagine, like talking to you.
“From the very first moment I went to the hospital, my target was to return to normal as soon as possible. Being healthy makes you enjoy life, but being ill makes you understand its meaning. I must say this time it was more difficult.
“Because of COVID, I could see my wife for only three hours per day. The first time [in 2019], I received many visits from friends. It’s hard to be always alone. I suffered a lot. I was able to talk to my family and players thanks to technology. The team, the club, staff and doctors have always been close to me. It was terrible, but I am here and this is what counts the most.
“Seeing a serene team that takes responsibility was what I liked the most. Before that, they were a little shaky, but then they’ve become fully aware of their qualities. We always tried to create problems for every team with our playing and moral principles. It’s great to see this attitude on the pitch.”
Riecco Mihajlovic, domani in panchina col Bologna: "Ho sofferto molto, tornare alla normalità era l'obiettivo" https://t.co/FxFf39Igyt
— TUTTOmercatoWEB (@TuttoMercatoWeb) May 7, 2022
And this is coming from a former player. Lol.
Calm down………you were so lucky in that match with that Radu howler if not there was any intention you wanted to win at all cost it have been a draw. It’s amazing despite being an inter player you still wanted Napoli to win the Scudetto.
Mihajlovic’s career as a coach is crappy anyhow, what did he achieve as a coach?
You Interisti have no respect. The guy is fighting cancer and you call him up on his stats. Be ashamed.
He’s spent 14 years managing in top-flight football, the majority in Serie A. He may not be an elite coach but by any standard he is a decent coach,
angry because Inter never saw him as good enough to be their coach……..the game should have been played in January with Bologna fielding whoever was fit.
@Fatecisognare
What does his health have to do with anything? So because he has cancer we should say he is a great coach? He remains a mediocre low level coach, ask Milanisti. He coached Milan and failed.
He has every right to complain about Inter trying to win the game by default. Everyone criticised Juventus for trying to do the same against Napoli last season so why should this be any different? He wanted to beat Inter and he did. Respect to him and his team. He has beaten Inter on multiple occasions as a coach, including while he was Milan boss. If anyone is to be criticised, it’s Inzaghi for his team selection and approach to the game.
They defaulted and should have lost the game on the 3-0 rule. One team shows up even in the covid era and the other doesn’t is a bunch of BS mate!
“I said it to my players before the game: ‘They tried to win the game off the pitch because they know that they’ll never make it on the pitch.’
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Big words Miha, especially considering Bologna were beaten 6-1 by Inter not too long ago
It was the first match at the beginning of a new year and Inter wanted to play that match when it was scheduled but because of Covid the rules had to change to accommodate the mess created. Otherwise it was the match was supposed to be a warm up for Inter to start the year and it turned out to be a crucial match where Inter had their keeper injured. Inter had every right to demand for the points because the rules at the time were suppose to allow Bologna to play still even with this some delusional fans seem to think inter pay to get favours.
Mihajlolvic is just a small club coach. So what he won 3 points against Inter. De Boer and Stramaccioni won against juve and they remain crappy coaches.
Whatever, I am sure Inter is willing to destroy you completely next season.
Wow, wasn’t expecting this level of nastiness from inter fans. Sinisa seems like a nice guy, it’s very inspiring that his team remained unbeaten while he was being treated, I think the same thing happened a couple of years ago as well. It’s a absolute disgrace every single time a team tries to win a game away from the pitch and inter should bury their heads in the sand and stfu.
I often pray for your 100% wellness be strong Sinisa!