Dario Canovi told MilanNews: "I don't want to be immodest, but already when he was playing I told him that he would be one of the greatest European coaches.
"After 50 years of football I think I understand at least a little, I'm not talking about football but about people. And Thiago is such an intelligent person that he couldn't help but follow this path
"Bologna certainly made the task easier. There is a nice environment, then look at the unity of the players: just see how they celebrate and what relationship there is between them and Thiago, you can see how much respect and affection there is.
"Look, I told him at the time: if you make me die before coaching a team in the Champions League I'll come down from the sky and kick your a**. There won't be any risk, because I'm sure who he will coach in the Champions League."