Vincenzo Italiano: “We have to unsettle Galatasaray”
Beşiktaş head coach Vincenzo Italiano has drawn a clear roadmap for the new season, underlining both domestic ambitions and European goals while sending a direct message to their biggest rival of recent years: Galatasaray must no longer feel comfortable at the top.
Speaking about his early days at Beşiktaş, the Italian manager admitted that the atmosphere and squad structure immediately reminded him of a previous chapter in his career.
“The beginning here at Beşiktaş really takes me back to my time at Bologna,” he said. “I see a team that is not yet complete, many things still need to be built. There are a lot of young players with energy and potential in the training camp. It’s a similar challenge: shaping a group that can compete at the highest level while developing youngsters.”
“We must disturb Galatasaray’s comfort zone”
Italiano was transparent about his main domestic target. For him, the Turkish Super Lig title race starts from a simple premise: ending the dominance of Galatasaray.
“In the league, we have to disturb Galatasaray,” he stressed. “They have been champions four seasons in a row. When one club stays at the top that long, everyone else has a responsibility to raise the level. Our team is already strong, but we are not satisfied yet. If we can add two or three more players, we will become even more competitive.”
The coach also highlighted a key reinforcement that has already excited Beşiktaş fans.
“Trossard is a superb signing,” Italiano noted. “He is the kind of player who can immediately change the tempo of a match. He will join us at the beginning of August, and I’m sure he’ll give us an extra edge in attack.”
“I have never seen such a passionate atmosphere”
While Italiano has worked in some of Italy’s most football-crazy cities, he admitted that his first encounters with Beşiktaş supporters left a unique impression.
“Beşiktaş is a top-level club with a fantastic structure,” he explained. “The organization is excellent, the training center is at a very high standard, and the environment around the team is truly impressive. But what really struck me is the atmosphere. I have never seen or experienced such a fiery, intense atmosphere before.”
According to the coach, this passion is not just a spectacle; it is a powerful tool that can shape the character of the team.
“When you feel that energy from the stands, you cannot play at half-intensity,” he said. “The supporters demand courage and commitment, and that pushes the players to go beyond their limits. If we can connect this passion with our footballing ideas, we can turn our stadium into a real fortress.”
European experience as a driving force
Italiano also underlined how his previous experiences with Fiorentina and Bologna in European competitions have shaped his approach and contributed to his move to Beşiktaş.
“At Fiorentina and Bologna, I got to know European competitions in depth,” he said. “In Europe, you are constantly being tested. You cannot lose concentration for a single moment, because there is no such thing as an easy match. Every opponent has a plan, every detail counts.”
He believes those challenges played a crucial role in building his reputation.
“Those clubs gave me the chance to show what I can do on a continental stage,” Italiano added. “Thanks to those experiences, a club as big as Beşiktaş decided to approach me. For a coach, that kind of recognition is very important.”
The Bologna chapter: when a story has to end
Italiano did not shy away from discussing his departure from Bologna, a club that was eager to keep him.
“Bologna made a big effort to convince me to stay,” he admitted. “Of course, I could have continued there. We had built something meaningful together. But in football, some stories continue and some come to an end. You have to recognize the right moment.”
A key factor in his decision was the lack of European football in Bologna’s future plans.
“We were no longer going to be in European competitions,” he explained. “For someone who has spent the last five years getting used to playing in Europe, that is a very important element. I want to measure myself against the best, to be on that stage. Sometimes a fresh start is good for everyone involved – for the coach, for the club, and for the players.”
Building a new identity at Beşiktaş
Beyond individual signings, Italiano is focused on building a clear football identity for Beşiktaş. His teams are known for their aggressive pressing, quick transitions, and structured possession play.
“We want a team that knows what to do in every phase of the game,” he said. “When we have the ball, we must be brave, always looking to create superiority and break lines. When we lose it, we need immediate reaction, collective pressing, and discipline. The idea is simple: we control the match with and without the ball.”
For him, the key is consistency.
“Anyone can play well for 20 minutes,” he continued. “The difference at the top level is playing at the same intensity and concentration for 90 minutes, every three days. That is the standard we are trying to reach.”
Youth, experience, and the transfer puzzle
The current squad, with its mix of promising youngsters and established names, offers both opportunities and challenges.
“Young players bring enthusiasm, but they also need guidance,” Italiano noted. “That’s why it is crucial to have leaders in the dressing room, players who have already lived through title races and European nights. The market is not just about buying talent; it is about finding the right characters to complete the puzzle.”
He made it clear that any remaining transfers will be carefully targeted.
“We are not looking for quantity, we are looking for quality,” he said. “Two or three right signings can change the balance of a team more than seven or eight random additions.”
Strategy against a dominant rival
When talking about “unsettling” Galatasaray, Italiano is not only thinking about direct confrontations, but about the overall level Beşiktaş must reach.
“To disturb a team that wins four titles in a row, you must attack their comfort zone,” he explained. “That means winning the so-called small games, staying mentally strong in difficult away matches, and keeping pressure on them throughout the season. If they feel like they can’t afford any slip, then you are really in the title race.”
He also emphasized the importance of psychological resilience.
“In long championships, the title is not decided only by tactics,” he added. “It is decided by how you react after a defeat, how you handle a draw that feels like a loss, how you play under pressure in April and May. We are working on that mentality from day one.”
Europe as a stage and a test
Beşiktaş’s ambitions are not limited to domestic success. Italiano views European competitions as both a showcase and a laboratory.
“In Europe, you face different football cultures, different tactical systems,” he said. “That forces you to adapt, to find new solutions. For the club’s prestige and for the growth of our players, it is fundamental to be present in those tournaments.”
He believes that consistent European participation will also help Beşiktaş attract higher-profile players in the future.
“When players see a club that regularly appears in Europe, that fights in important matches on Thursday or Tuesday nights, it becomes a more attractive destination,” he explained. “Our goal is to make Beşiktaş one of those clubs that everyone in Europe respects and fears.”
A new chapter, shared responsibility
Summing up his vision, Italiano framed his arrival at Beşiktaş as the beginning of a project that requires collective effort.
“This is a new chapter for me and for the club,” he said. “The responsibility does not belong only to the coach. The players, the staff, the management, and the supporters all have a role. If we move in the same direction, we can challenge the current balance in the league and make our mark in Europe.”
For now, his message is simple but ambitious: Beşiktaş must grow to the point where Galatasaray and every other rival feel constant pressure. Only then, in his view, will the black-and-white club truly reclaim its place at the top.