Vincenzo Italiano is just five games away from securing Champions League football for Bologna, which would be an impressive feat. In light of that, Gianluca Di Marzio has questioned AC Milan’s unwillingness to hire him.
It has been a cracking season for Bologna and Italiano so far, currently in fourth with 60 points, and they are heading for yet another season with Champions League qualification. After Thiago Motta’s exit and the sales in the summer, it’s something that few expected.
In an interview with TMW Radio, as transcribed by MilanNews, the well-known journalist Gianluca Di Marzio has questioned Milan and Roma’s unwillingness to hire Italiano. While both clubs are keeping an eye on him, he’s far from the first name for either of them.
“Bologna deserve to return to the Champions League. Italiano took a burning bench, without Calafiori, without Zirkzee, with a team that had everything to lose, and instead he has proven himself as a fantastic coach… strangely not considered by Milan or Roma.
“There is talk of him, but not a lot. But why is he not at the top of the list? Why is Italiano not the most sought-after coach in Italy at the moment?” the journalist questioned.
Of course, the Milan management will be able to see Italiano’s tactics in action once again in just a few weeks, first in the league and then in the Coppa Italia final a few days later. For now, however, it seems they want a more established and experienced profile for the position.
at this current state why would he go to Milan?
Because there is zero pressure at Bologna after last season and he can do whatever the eff he wants. plus a lot of what he has done was built on motta’s back. So he needs to either spend another season at Bologna or go through a club like Napoli or Roma/Lazio first to see if he has what it takes
Italiano did well in Fiorentina, with two consecutive Conference League finals. Bologna sold Calafiori and Zirkzee who were pivotal for Motta and he’s still in contention to win Coppa and qualify for CL. I’d say he showed more than Motta over the years and is ready for a bigger leap.
Agree he has a richer CV than Motta. IMO it depends on the Coppa Italia final. If Bologna win, then there is no doubt he is ready for a big club. Otherwise if he manages to get a UCL spot for next season, it is another proof that he is ready. There are not many proven coaches available out there, so one can’t rule out Italiano.
Roma/Lazio/Napoli are a bigger step. I don’t know that he should leap to Milan or juve.
Because we already have a good coach. As seen in recent derby it’s only up to the players to show desire and fight for the team. I think we will do great under the current coach and we should keep him.
All these Italian pundits and journalists have no respect or behave in a professional way, let’s be honest Sérgio Conceição has more pedigree and success over him, Sergio Conceicao was a world class player who played in big clubs, was Coached by great Coaches,and he won big titles, he was at Porto as a Coach for 7 seasons, and he won trophies, he has already won one trophy and he will win another, but Italiano was a provisional player who never won anything, and has not won anything as a Coach, his name is still been pushed by these Italia journalist simply because he is Italian.
Pirlo, Nesta, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pippo Inzaghi, De Boer, Vieira, Ronney were all great players and winners. And how’s that working out for them, now since they’re coaching?
Italiano managed to bring Fiorentina to two consecutive Conference League finals. He’s still in contention to win Coppa and qualify for CL.
why does the media hate Conceicao so much, not Italian enough for you?
Bunch of xenophobic twats
I honestly don’t think it has anything to do with Conceicao’s nationality. The media constantly speculates about every club coaching situation.
Pioli had speculation his whole time at Milan except for the year we won the scudetto. He is Italian.
It’s a results based business.
You can be 2nd and still get constant speculation. E.g. Pioli seasons.
Especially if you are coaching at one of the big clubs in any league.
Conceicao has a big club in 9th place!
To date his numbers are still worse than his predecessor
Of course there is going to be considerable speculation on his future.
P.s. I’m not saying he should be sacked.
If he continues to show improvement in remaining games, I am open to him staying.
Despite numerous negative posts I have made about his time to date.
Since switching to a back 3 formation Milan has been a lot better playing 343 or 3421 under Conceição winning 2 games scoring 7 goals and only conceding 1 goal and 1 loss to Atalanta.
We should not get carried away with the loss to Atalanta which was caused by a lack of concentration and poor positioning from our defenders who were either ball watching or not defending well as Tomori should have never let Lookman cut inside and make the cross.
That’s horrible school boy defending. Apart from that the team looks good and there is no point in changing Conceição if he continues to get results in Serie A and win the Coppa Italia.
Italian journalists are so elementary persons …. Last summer there was almost fight for Motta because how great he was with Bologna and now we know how he finish… with Bologna he play first time in European competition… yes he has good future before him but not now , his time come and then he goes to AC, Juve or Napoli
For me I prefer we gave him another chance, sengio can make Milan great again, winning 2 trophy in six month is not easy. So I believe in sengio
Well then we have to ask Dimarzio too. What is the silverwares that Italiano have?
Milan and Roma, must have coaches that can guarantee silverwares comes. Its not the time to put on a bet to coach like Italiano or others.
Is Italiano good coach, oh yes he is. But, not the time for Milan choose him. Except he came with title ‘One of the top coaches’, then lets hire him.
I think Italiano is ready to manage bigger club like Milan. And I prefer Italiano to Allegri. Despite his success with Juve and Milan previously, I never like Allegri as a coach.
Coach is not ‘the’ problem in Milan now. Bologna have excellent management to run the club. We need to replace our CEO, Furlani, Ibrahimovic first. These are the root cause of Milan. Arrogant Ibrahimovic should never come close to the dressing and any decision making stage.
Furlani and football are 2 different things. His place is not in football for sure. Scaroni is old scu mbag.
Marotta build unbeatable team in Juve with ‘free’ signings and look what he is doing in Inter.
This is how CEO should be.
If we need to replace the coach, only person who confront these r ats is Conte. He will not buy the board’s pathetic excuses. That’s a coach with big balls.
Conceicao made Porto mad dogs and brought them into top-8 in Europe. He deserves time and his process. Keep him in 2025-26 as well and let do his stuff in summer Mercato as well. The only concern I have against him is his obsession towards Joao FELIX. Even when he underperforming, he kept playing Felix. That’s the problem though.
Whoever gives his best should be given his chance in match day. Names shouldn’t matter
Pioli gave Leao and Theo victim cards, that cards should be removed. If anyone performs better in the training, they should start over Leao or Theo