Ravenna defender Giulio Donati spoke in an interview with La Nazione about the impact that Raffaele Palladino had on Bologna, who defeated Milan at San Siro in the midweek round. Donati highlighted Palladino's personality, defining him as a coach who lives on sensations and who breathes his players. According to the defender, Palladino does not announce the lineup in advance, neither in the hotel nor on the bus, as many coaches do, but waits to arrive in the locker room before the match. "This is one of his many strengths. He is meritocratic: he is direct, honest with everyone. The players perceive this and give their best, they always stay on track", explained Donati.
During the interview Donati then made a strong comparison between Palladino and José Mourinho, recalling his past as a young player from the Primavera team who was given his debut in the Italian Cup by Mourinho. "He has a strong personality, he is not afraid of being criticized for choices that may be unpopular on paper. He measures concentration, motivation and then decides: without distinctions between young people and veterans, like many do. And in this he reminds me of a coach I had at the beginning of my career. Who? A certain José Mourinho. Attention: we are talking about an extraterrestrial, incomparable to anyone. I was a young boy from the Primavera team who joined on a permanent basis, he made me make my debut in the Italian Cup, but I was a supporting player in a team of phenomena who that year he won the treble. Yet Mou treated me like he treated Javier Zanetti."
Donati then spoke about his current project at Ravenna, where he has set up a "great team, a strong and united group". "We are second, despite many refereeing errors, behind an equally strong Spezia. I can't wait to meet Dinho again: I had the honor of making my Serie A debut in 2010 with Lecce against his Milan at San Siro. He is an absolute phenomenon, and, despite his age, he won't want to disfigure himself in Serie C. It will be a spectacle", he added.
Donati's interview offers an interesting look at Palladino's role in Bologna's recent victory over Milan and how his leadership influenced the players. In the meantime, Ravenna aims to consolidate its position in Serie C with a strong and motivated team, ready to challenge its most competitive rivals.