Zirkzee gets inspiration from Kobe Bryant as Bologna push for Champions League spot

Originally posted on Football Italia | By Lorenzo Bettoni | Last updated 4/30/24

Joshua Zirkzee gets inspiration from NBA legend Kobe Bryant after Bologna mathematically qualified for a European competition next season: ‘What’s there to be happy about? Job’s not finished.’

Bologna’s 1-1 draw against Udinese on Sunday allowed the Rossoblu to qualify for a UEFA competition in 2024-25. It is still unclear, whether it will be Conference, Europa or Champions League, but the Rossoblu will finish at least 8th in Serie A this term.

Thiago Motta’s men are in an excellent position to qualify for the Champions League. They sit fourth, just two points below third-placed Juventus. Remember that this season, the top five Serie A clubs will qualify for Europe’s elite club competition.

Most importantly, the Rossoblu are six points above sixth-placed Atalanta, even though La Dea have a game in hand.

Despite an impressive achievement, Motta and his men want more and Zirkzee made it clear in his latest Instagram story.

The Dutch striker posted a short video of an iconic Bryant press conference in which he had failed to celebrate LA Lakers going up 2-0 in the 2009 Finals.

“What’s there to be happy about? The job’s not finished. The job is not finished,” said the NBA legend.

“Is the job finished? I don’t think so.”

It’s fair to say that Zirkzee feels precisely the same.

"What's there to be happy about? Job's not finished."

14 years ago today, Kobe delivered his famous NBA Finals quote. pic.twitter.com/dJbXbtM22K

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 7, 2023