Lewis Ferguson’s first season in Serie A has been a special one in every way.
The Scotland international’s impressive form has seen him linked with big-money moves to Juventus and newly-crowned Italian champions Napoli. The Bologna midfielder’s campaign has had everything from goals to playing in arenas like the San Siro, Stadio Olimpico and Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. That and meeting one of his all-time heroes in Jose Mourinho, who wanted to talk about Scotland. It came after his Roma side had drawn 0-0 after they were both leaving the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
Ferguson told Record Sport : “I think Jose heard Lauren (my partner) talking and he asked if she was Scottish. Lauren then pointed to me, he came across and started speaking, which was amazing and a nice wee touch. I had the wee one in my arms and he asked me where she was born in Scotland. He was telling me he did his coaching badges at Largs with the SFA.
“It was amazing because I have always loved Jose Mourinho. I always loved his Chelsea teams.
“I loved Chelsea growing up and I love Mourinho, his interviews are brilliant and the way he handles himself, so to meet him was fantastic. It felt weird because I felt so in awe of him. It made my day. I was walking away and Lauren said, ‘Do you not think it is mental that he knows who you are?’”.
It was a successful campaign for Bologna who just missed out on European football and landed their highest points total since it became three for a win. He also netted six goals, which saw him beat the hauls of fellow Scots Denis Law and Aaron Hickey in Italy.
The 23-year-old added: “I have managed to get six goals. It was good to beat Aaron’s record. I felt my first season went well, it has been successful.
“I feel I have become a better player and that is what I wanted to do when I came across here. I wanted to play in this league, make my mark and improve, and I feel I have done that.
“I think I can put that down as a success. I have loved it, played in big stadiums and against top teams and players. We have also had a really good season as a team. The mood generally around Bologna has been good because we have played well. We didn’t start the best but after that first month we kicked into gear.”
Ferguson knows he has kicked on as a player, performing in some of Europe’s biggest arenas and toppling Champions League finalists Inter Milan. The former Aberdeen player said: “When we beat Inter at home it was one of the big moments. They were going well and we beat 1-0.
“They’ve had a good season and made the Champions League Final. They also battered us in the San Siro in the first game of the season.
“Scoring the goals has been big. The first in Italy was special and the goal against Sassuolo, just before the World Cup, was my favourite moment.
“If I had to pick one, it would be that but the full experience has been great. The atmospheres in the stadiums have been brilliant.
“The San Siro is amazing. It is one of the best stadiums I have played in. Maradona’s stadium and Juventus’ ground are amazing.
“Everything goes up a level when you go up against better players and teams and in a top league like Serie A. When we played Napoli away we played Piotr Zielinski and Stanislav Lobotka in the midfield. They were different class and flying.
“Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was also unbelievable and Rafael Leao at Milan and Hakan Calhanoglu for Inter. There are so many names but Kvaratskhelia at Napoli was different class. Also, when you are training with top players, that brings you on as well.”
Ferguson rose to the challenge when he left Hamilton for Aberdeen and feels he has done the same in Italy. He added: “It has gone better but I always believed I would get better and kick on as I did at Aberdeen. I think I did that when I broke into the team.
“It was going to take time to settle in but once I managed to do that, I have stayed in the team and played quite well. I have always had faith in my own ability. I feel I have improved in every aspect. Off the ball, Italy is really tactical.
“They are heavy on that and we do a lot of video analysis, positional and when to go and when not to. I have also improved on the ball because the manager wants us to keep the ball and use it well because if you give it away against good teams, then you are in trouble.”
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