De Ponti: “Bologna are always in my heart and my son’s a fan”

“I was extravagant like Pesaola, we got on and we did good things that year, especially against Inter. Survival was a tough task and we needed those goals from Nanni on the final day,” said Gil De Ponti who was Florentine by birth but he became “Bolognese in every way. I started my family in Bologna, my son was born Rossoblu and he still is obviously. He has a season ticket in the Curva Bulgarelli and he will be at the Stadio Franchi. He’s one of the thousands who will be getting the train on Sunday morning.”

De Ponti is also satisfied with the club’s current direction. “I’m happy with these past two wins which reset things and brought the right spirit back,” he added. “If the fans deserved them then so did the President. Verdi’s call-up for Italy is also a cause for pride and I hope that it’s only the start of the adventure for him. I also hope that it will be Masina and Di Francesco’s turn soon. On the other hand, Fiorentina have disappointed their fans a bit as they expected a different kind of season.”

As mentioned, two moments against Inter were important during the 1977-78 season. “I made my debut goal for the Rossoblu at the San Siro,” he added. “A great cross from Chiodi came in and I just had to turn it into the goal.” It was the first of 19 Bologna goals from Gil who was a lively and physical centre-forward who endeared himself to the fans. Less happy was his second spell at the club after relegation in 1982. “I only came back because of my great friendship with Giacomo Bulgarelli who was the sporting director but there were lots of problems at the club,” he added. “We ended up in Serie C  and fortunately we came straight back up after a year.”