The Italian press dissects Istvan Kovacs » What grades did he receive after the thriller on “Olimpico”
Article by Aurelian Botezatu – Published Friday, March 20, 2026, 07:42 / Updated Friday, March 20, 2026 07:42
Istvan Kovacs was at the “center” in Rome – Bologna, score 3-4, after extra time. The guests qualified, after the round match had ended in a draw, 1-1.
“Central” from Carei had a long and complicated evening on “Olimpico”. A Rome – Bologna with 7 goals, including two from the penalty, and no less than 9 yellow cards!
Gazzetta dello Sport: “Istvan Kovacs saw the penalties without the help of VAR”
But unlike his often controversial Ligue 1 performances, Kovacs lived up to expectations throughout the 120 minutes and saw the game through without any significant errors.
It is certified by the demanding Italian press, which gave it ok qualifications. The most prestigious profile daily in the Peninsula, Gazzetta dello Sport, wrote that Istvan Kovacs was “very attentive to the episodes spent in the two squares“. And “he saw the awarded penalties without needing VAR”.
Istvan Kovacs' rating in Gazzetta dello Sport: 6.5
What the Gazzetta criticized were “a few mistakes in midfield“, in the assessment of some fouls. The grade received by the Romanian “central” in the aforementioned publication was 6.5, as well as in Corriere della Sera. The same rating was given to one of his assistants, Marius Marica, while Ferencz Tunyogi was rated 6.
After the final whistle, neither side committed to refereeing. The most embittered of coaches, the defeated Gian Piero Gasperini, blamed the errors made by his players.
Gian Piero Gasperini: “At this level, you pay for mistakes”
“It was a thrilling match and we leave with great disappointment. We saw the best and the worst: the best in our game, the worst in the goals we conceded.
At this level you pay for mistakes, even unusual situations like the first goal cost us dearly. When you're missing four or five players in the same position, it's inevitable to suffer,” commented Gasperini.
In turn, the counterpart Vincenzo Italiano pointed out: “”It's too simplistic to talk about a match; it's a performance. To get here, in this stadium, against a team that was a mountain to climb, is something enormous. This competition makes you grow, we work for nights like this”.
