Bologna assistant managers Miroslav Tanjga and Emilio De Leo reveal the message Sinisa Mihajlovic gave the team ahead of their Brescia trip.
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Mihajlovic was diagnosed with leukaemia in July and was given special permission by his doctors to be on the touchline for the opening two Serie A games against Verona and SPAL.
However, as he has just started the second course of chemotherapy this week, he will remain in the Bologna clinic and maintain contact with his staff remotely.
“There is no fear, as we were already getting accustomed to working like this during pre-season,” assistant Tanjga said in a Press conference.
“Obviously, Sinisa’s absence is not a positive, but it won’t influence the performance, because his presence is always felt.”
Fellow assistant manager Emilio De Leo revealed the message that Mihajlovic had given the team.
“He asked us for a ‘desperate’ attitude, in the sense that every moment of the match must be considered as if it was the last, with courage and quality.
“Brescia have a very clear and consolidated structure, so we don’t expect any changes from them. If Romulo were to play as a trequartista, he’d bring experience and nous, but I don’t think it’d fundamentally transform their approach.”
Bologna already threw Gary Medel into the starting XI against SPAL and he turned down international duty with Chile so he could focus on training with his new teammates.
“Medel was responsible and professional, which we had no doubt he would be. He’s giving his all and also helping the younger players by setting the example
“We didn’t change the tactics for him, he just interprets the role slightly differently from the other midfielders in the squad.”
With Danilo out injured, De Leo confirmed Mattia Bani is likely to step in to defence.
Bologna squad for Brescia: Skorupski, Da Costa, Sarr; Bani, Corbo, Denswil, Dijks, Krejci, Mbaye, Tomiyasu, Paz; Dzemaili, Poli, Schouten, Soriano, Svanberg, Medel; Destro, Orsolini, Palacio, Sansone, Santander, Skov Olsen
