Sinisa Mihajlovic explains the difference between Milan and Bologna in their San Siro defeat. ‘They have Zlatan Ibrahimovic and we don’t.’

This was a negative start to the season, losing 2-0 with an Ibrahimovic brace, but at least an improvement on the 5-1 defeat they suffered here a few months ago.

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Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic wants response to the 5-1 defeat to Milan in July and warns his players. ‘If we lack courage and the right attitude, we can lose to anyone’.

The Rossoblu tactician prepares his men to face Stefano Pioli’s Rossoneri tomorrow and starts the 2020-21 season with a tough away game at San Siro.

But the Serbian coach wants a completely ‘different story’ this time around and hopes his men will ‘fight’ until the final whistle.

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Stefano Pioli aims to improve Milan’s position in Serie A this term and hopes to start by turning a negative trend in the opening matches in recent years.

The coach was met by the press on Sunday and was asked if Milan were a Scudetto contender in 2020-21.

“I don’t know, it’s difficult to answer these questions,” Pioli said at a press conference. “We must always show that we are an ambitious team, we must give our all.

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Sinisa Mihajlovic insists he ‘would’ve died’ if he hadn’t been able to take a break from leukaemia treatment to sit on the Bologna bench last summer.

The coach was diagnosed with leukaemia in July 2019 and was only able to communicate with his squad and staff during pre-season via phone or videolink from his hospital room.

After chemotherapy, his condition stabilised enough that his doctors allowed him a fervent wish – to attend Bologna’s first Serie A game of the 2019-20 season at the Stadio Bentegodi.

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Coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said Bologna are missing a centre-forward but vowed to ‘arrive ready’ for the first match against Milan at San Siro.

After a goalless draw against Virtus Entella on Saturday, the coach didn’t focus on the result, but on the aspects in need of improvement at Bologna.

“The goal of these matches is not the result but to put the team in order,” Mihajlovic told Sky Sport Italia.

“I know we can do better, but there are eight days left for Milan and we will arrive ready.

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Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic insists COVID-19 was ‘like a cool drink of water’ compared to battling leukaemia, but hit back at social media ‘haters' who criticised him for contracting the virus.

He returned to pre-season training yesterday, having been excluded due to his Coronavirus diagnosis, but has now made a full recovery.

Many were worried when he contracted the virus, as he was a high-risk individual just over a year after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

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Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic will be able to join his team for pre-season training after recovering from COVID-19.

The tactician had tested positive for the virus on August 23, but was asymptomatic.

After a period in quarantine, he has now provided two negative tests for the coronavirus, so is allowed to resume his work.

A statement from Bologna confirmed Mihajlovic will be at the training ground tomorrow to direct the session with his players.

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Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic believes his children might’ve given him COVID-19. ‘For the second year running, I can’t be at pre-season training.’

There were understandable concerns when the Serbian announced he had tested positive, as he is in a high-risk category, having been diagnosed with leukaemia just over a year ago.

However, he is asymptomatic and currently self-isolating at home, so spoke to the Bologna squad and fans by phone at the end of their pre-season training retreat.

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Despite the growing number of COVID-19 cases among players in Serie A and B, the medical experts working with the FIGC assure there’ll be no delay to the new season.

There was a brief gap between the end of the 2019-20 campaign and pre-season training for 2020-21, during which players and staff went on vacation.

They eased the strict anti-COVID-19 bubble and it proved just how pernicious the virus can be, as several clubs including Roma, Napoli, Torino, Fiorentina, Cagliari and even Bologna coach Sinisa Mihajlovic had positive tests.

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There are genuine concerns the 2020-21 Serie A season could be delayed after numerous clubs found players and staff positive for COVID-19.

The campaign is due to kick off on September 19, so pre-season training has either already begun or is ramping up over the next few days.

This means, as per protocol, that all players and staff are receiving blanket blood and swab tests to identify the presence of the Coronavirus.

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