'I'll win this challenge' – Bologna coach Mihajlovic vows to fight leukaemia following diagnosis

The former Milan boss will remain in charge of the Serie A outfit as he undergoes treatment according to their director

Bologna head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has been diagnosed with leukaemia, the club and manager have confirmed.

The 50-year-old has been confirmed however to remain in charge of the Serie A outfit while he undergoes treatment.

The former Milan boss, who is currently in his second spell with the Rossoblu after succeeding Filippo Inzaghi in January, made the announcement at a press conference alongside director Walter Sabatini, and vowed that he will “win this challenge”.

“Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, we did some tests and discovered some anomalies that weren’t there four months ago,” Mihajlovic stated.

“We said I had a fever and the hardest thing was to convince my wife that it was true: I have leukaemia.

“I spent the night crying and I still have tears now, but I’m not afraid. I’ll go to hospital and I can’t wait to start fighting. I explained to my players that I will fight to win, as I’ve taught them to do on the pitch.

“I’ll win this challenge, no doubt about it. I want to thank all of Bologna for making me understand that I’m a member of the family, and I’ll also need them to win this battle. But I’ll also need to see people not crying for me. I don’t want pity.

“My father died of cancer, so I always get tested regularly. If we hadn’t performed these tests, I wouldn’t have shown any symptoms for a year.

“None of us must think we are indestructible. All of us think, ‘It won’t happen to me’, but when it does, it’s a big shock. Your only hope then is to anticipate it, because if you discover it after two months or after a year, that makes a big difference.

“So, if I, as a famous person, can go through this, I hope it can help others to get themselves checked, to prepare and to realise that it can happen to anyone. I was perfectly healthy in every way and yet here I am.

“It changes your life in a moment. Everything changes in a moment. When you sleep and have a nightmare, you wake up, but for days you wake up and realise this isn’t a nightmare, this is real.

“I hope, after winning this battle, I’ll be able to talk it over with you all and look back on this period. Nothing has been given to me in life – I’ve had to fight for everything. I’ll fight this, too.”

Speaking alongside Mihajlovic, Sabatini added: “Sinisa will hold Bologna in his hands, and Bologna will hold Sinisa, until the end of his contract.

“Whatever happens in the coming days, Mihajlovic will remain the coach of Bologna.”

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