Palladino on Bologna task: 'I don't have a magic wand in three days'
Quick summary
Newly appointed Bologna coach Raffaele Palladino acknowledges he needs time to implement his ideas, with a match looming in just three days.
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Attributed to original sourceRaffaele Palladino has been unveiled at the Nicolo Galli training centre, replacing the sacked Domenico Tedesco with Bologna bottom of the pile and three days from a crucial fixture.
With quotes courtesy of TuttoMercatoWeb , the new coach opened by thanking the club for the manner of the approach.
“I wanted to thank the club because in these days they have shown me enormous faith and they did not offer me a bench, they offered me a project, and that is why I came here,” Palladino said. “We need to rediscover the enthusiasm that has been lost, but I am happy, fired up and determined to take on this journey.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – MAY 17: Raffaele Palladino Head coach of Atalanta looks on during the Serie A match between Atalanta BC and Bologna FC 1909 at Gewiss Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Cottini/Getty Images) Palladino: ‘They need a spark, mental before physical’ He was blunt about the limits of what can change before Saturday. “I do not have a magic wand in just three days, but I am certain the lads need a spark that is mental before it is physical. We need an immediate click.”
Palladino also indicated he will not rush a change of shape, having previously favoured a back three. “I think this team was built to play with a four, but it also has the potential for a back three. It can be a chameleon-like side. We will see over the course of the season.”
Asked whether Riccardo Orsolini and Federico Bernardeschi can coexist, he was unequivocal. “Orsolini and Bernardeschi are a formidable pair and I will always try to put quality players on the pitch, the more we have, the better. My belief is that the first defenders have to be the attackers.”
He credited his predecessor while flagging the work ahead. “I thank Tedesco because he coached this team, but by changing the types of training there will also be a change in the level of intensity. The physical condition needs to be rebuilt and the lads know it.”
BOLOGNA, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 06: Artem Dovbyk of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC and US Sassuolo at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on September 6, 2026 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images) Bologna’s position explains the urgency. One point from four matchdays, just two goals scored, both against Sassuolo through Roberto Piccoli and Artem Dovbyk, and five conceded left the board little room to persist with Tedesco.
Palladino, who was linked with the job alongside Stefano Pioli and Thiago Motta, had been out of work since leaving Atalanta and says he turned down other offers before this one.
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What happened
Raffaele Palladino has been appointed as the new head coach of Bologna and faces an immediate challenge with a fixture in just three days. Speaking to the press, Palladino was candid about the limited preparation time, stating he doesn't have 'a magic wand' to transform the team overnight. The appointment comes as Bologna look to reset their season, and Palladino's early comments suggest a pragmatic, honest approach to the task ahead. He will need to quickly assess the squad and establish tactical direction despite the compressed timeline.
Chance analysis
Bologna's decision to bring in Raffaele Palladino signals a desire for a reset, but his own words underline just how steep the early challenge is. Three days is barely enough to learn players' names, let alone install a coherent tactical identity. The Italian coach's public honesty — admitting he cannot work miracles instantly — is refreshing, but it also raises legitimate questions about what to expect from the short term. For Bologna fans, patience will be required as Palladino balances quick results with the longer project of reshaping a squad that underperformed his predecessor's expectations.
Bologna enter a transitional period under a new coach with limited preparation, likely leading to inconsistent short-term performances as the system is installed.