Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic expects his squad to raise their level in tomorrow’s match against Sassuolo.
The Rossoblu have lost their last three games in a row, but during the Serbian coach’s time in charge they have never lost four consecutive league matches.
Speaking to gathered reporters in a press conference ahead of tomorrow’s match against Sassuolo, Mihajlovic highlighted how his team need to bounce back against the Neroverdi.
‘These three defeats start from further back. We’ve learned that playing at 100 kilometres per hour you save well in advance, this year the level has risen and we need to increase the speed to reach our goal on the left side. We need to raise the level of all the factors.
‘In Turin we didn’t play, against Fiorentina and Juventus the attitude was right but we made mistakes. So we have to raise our concentration and intensity. On the other hand, opponents also make mistakes and we must learn to punish them. Obviously we have to give more.’
The Serbian coach was happy with his team’s progress this campaign, noting that ‘when you come back from three defeats the mood is not the best, but you need to keep the balance knowing what we have done and what we have to do. After this last game we will make the necessary evaluations.
‘We think about where we started, where we are now and where we can go. Today we are higher in points than in the past and the gap between us and Europe today is seven points and in previous years it was more than ten.
‘Sassuolo were always talked about as a reference point and this season they have always been behind us. Today we’re on the right, so outside our target, but if we win tomorrow we’ll be back on the left.’
He felt that his players had the right ambitions for their goals. ‘The team has ambition and is as convinced as I am that we will reach our goal, there is time to do our thing but when we play direct matches you need to raise the level.’ He said.
Mihajlovic highlighted how he hasn’t had much time to prepare for tomorrow’s match. ‘There wasn’t much time, we prepared for the game tactically and today with the last training session we’ll push to the maximum.’
He noted that the team have grown in comparison to Sassuolo, detailing that ‘the comparison with Sassuolo is fair, but this year they’ve always been behind us so we’ve grown.’
The Serbian coach suggested that he would look to rotate the squad a little for match. ‘We had two problems with De Silvestri and Theate, let’s see today. We’ll definitely change something but where can we do it because in midfield I can’t change anything. We’ll change something up front.
‘Van Hooijdonk? He’s young, he’s grown since he arrived but I think he needs to play with consistency elsewhere.’
The Bologna coach commented on forward Musa Barrow’s inconsistency this season. ‘All of us can and must give more, including Barrow. He lacks consistency, it is a character issue that he has to improve. He can play in any team in the world but he is not always able to express his potential, he is a golden boy, I want the best for him.’ He said.
Mihajlovic suggested that his team need to work on all aspects of their play, not just the build-up phase. ‘Football is made up of ups and downs, that’s normal, we keep a balance, we evaluate knowing where to work and where to go.
‘It happens that in some parts of the season you do well in some areas and in others less, sometimes you are perfect in defence and less in attack or vice versa. We evaluate where to improve also on the basis of what happened, working on the defects even if sometimes it depends on single moments that can go well or badly. We work on all aspects.’
Finally, Mihajlovic expressed his holiday wishes to Bologna fans ahead of Christmas. ‘I would like to take this opportunity to wish the best to all Bologna fans, those who are worse off, all Bologna and non-Bologna workers, hoping that tomorrow they will all receive a gift from us on the pitch.’
Verso Sassuolo-Bologna, Mihajlovic: "Siamo sullo stesso livello" #Bologna https://t.co/etS4F7oQLU
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) December 21, 2021