Thiago Motta on Bologna’s run after Inter win in the Coppa Italia: “A team that does things the right way”

Bologna boss Thiago Motta has hailed his side after they picked up an impressive win over Inter in the Coppa Italia yesterday.

Carlos Augusto did hand Inter a lead in extra time but it wasn’t decisive. In the 112th minute and 116th minute, goals from Sam Beukema and Dan Ndoye helped the Rossoblu to a dramatic win, as they knocked out of the reigning Coppa Italia champions out.

After the game, Motta spoke to the press about the win and he hailed the character of the time and how they have performed so far in the season.

He said (via TMW): “It’s a team that does things in the right way, to be able to compete against teams that maybe on paper are different from ours. But this mentality, this character they demonstrate, this altruism, this helping each other on the pitch, are all things that are the result of great work what they do on and off the pitch.

“Inside is very important because it counts more than anything, but it also counts outside: we have fantastic guys on a human level and this makes the group grow stronger and stronger. Victories like this evening’s are an injection of positive energy. Now we will make a great recovery, we will prepare well and we will face a great team.”

Bologna have been the talk of the town in Serie A and their recent win over Bologna propelled them back into the top four of the league, as they are only four points behind third placed Milan right now.

Joshua Zirkzee has been a vital part of the success this season and Motta spoke about him as well, saying: “He knows it very well why he does it. He has great quality, he is a player with a profile that is difficult to find today, in every sense. He has great technical and physical quality, but he is altruistic: he thinks first of the group and then of himself.

“This gives him something more than many other players who perhaps don’t have this propensity. He has it and we are happy, he is happy too and he knows that he must continue as always. From the first he is working every day and for this reason, together with his companions who help him, he manages to do what he knows how to do.”

The 22-year-old Zirkzee didn’t score yesterday but he grabbed two assists and he has seven goals in the Serie A.

Kaustubh Pandey | GIFN