Thiago Motta refused to ‘talk about the referee’ following the 2-2 draw with Milan, focusing instead on praising Bologna for ‘doing everything to win.’
It was certainly not an evening short of incident at San Siro, as there were four goals and two missed penalties, both of them for the hosts.
“I feel fantastic, because I love it when these lads play to win all the way through. I will not talk about the referee, if someone has to do it then it will be our director Giovanni Sartori,” Thiago Motta told Sky Sport Italia.
“If Sartori does not speak, then evidently everything is fine as it is.
“We wanted to win the game from the first minute, the lads had such enthusiasm, worked collectively both attacking and defending. I am proud to work with these lads.”
Joshua Zirkzee had opened the scoring, cancelled out by a Ruben Loftus-Cheek brace, until Riccardo Orsolini converted a stoppage-time spot-kick for the 2-2 final result.
“Zirkzee had an enormous performance, but so did all his teammates, it is hard to single anyone out. It’s a pity, as I leave here with a strange sensation after the draw, we did everything to win.”
Thiago Motta was sent off for dissent when the first penalty was awarded, arguing Lewis Ferguson did not raise his foot that high, as Simon Kjaer was going for the diving header.
Regardless, Olivier Giroud saw it saved by Lukasz Skorupski, while Theo Hernandez thumped his effort against the upright after a Sam Beukema foul on Rafael Leao.
Bologna have managed to hold the top three – Inter, Juventus and Milan – to draws away from home this season and keep themselves in the hunt for that Champions League spot.
They also knocked Inter out of the Coppa Italia Round of 16 at San Siro in extra time.
“Our ambition is to do the maximum in every match, even against the opponents who are challenging for the ultimate prize. That makes me proud. Our ambition is to compete even against teams who on paper are at a different level to us.
“The only game where I got the sense we could not win this season was the opener against Milan, as it seemed over within 20 minutes and then we didn’t create much. In all the others, we played to win, even though there were some struggles because every game in Serie A is complicated and difficult.”
Zirkzee was on target again this evening and has already attracted plenty of transfer interest from the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and indeed Milan.
“I agree we can improve in front of goal and in games like this, as soon as you end up in front of the goal, you have to finish it off. We had taken the lead and could’ve increased that advantage.”
Xavi Hernandez announced today that he is leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.
“That is sad, he was doing a great job and won the title last season. I saw Jurgen Klopp announce he was leaving Liverpool. Coaching is a tough job, but it is the one we chose.”
Thiago Motta was asked when he will confirm his future, as negotiations continue with Bologna for a new contract.
“When there is news to report, I will tell you, but there’s none today.”
Thiago Motta a Sky: "Degli episodi non parlo: se non ne parla Sartori va tutto bene" https://t.co/qIu81kMYAO
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) January 27, 2024