Live TMW
The Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano speaks at a press conference on the eve of the match against Club Brugge, second leg of the Conference League semi-final after the 3-2 victory in the first leg:
7.01pm, the press conference begins
What should Fiorentina do and what should it not do?
“There are still points to be scored… We must take advantage of the one-goal lead, but without letting ourselves be influenced and continuing to make the plays that allowed us to get here. We will have to try to put them in difficulty like in the first leg, despite the two goals on our mistakes we played a great game. By limiting the errors and the lapses in attention we could put them in difficulty, we wanted it, but we must not let ourselves be influenced because if we let ourselves go we could end up in difficulty , maximum concreteness and playing as we know.”
Even against Atalanta you had a one-goal advantage…
“The first thing that comes to my mind is that these are matches in which incidents influence a lot. See the expulsion in Bergamo, where we weren’t having a bad match. Then if you remain inferior it’s clear that everything changes. We must not commit mistakes that can give great advantages to the opponents, it is an important match in which we will not have to abandon the principles and plays that have brought us this far, we will play our game without drops in tension.”
Will tomorrow’s race change your opinion on the season?
“Fiorentina’s journey so far has been positive, we have reached another semi-final. Then we’ll see what happens tomorrow, but having reached May 7th with the possibility of playing for a trophy is still something extraordinary. This competition has seen us for two years as protagonists, we have given emotions to our fans and we want to continue the journey we have made in Europe so far.”
Do you expect a more unscrupulous Club Brugge?
“I can’t know what the opponent may have in his head, but he is at a disadvantage and playing at home he will be excited. The fans are also preparing a choreography. They will want to fix the result to get to the end. We must maintain our identity, repeat what allowed us to put them in difficulty in the first leg: without minutes of confusion, that match would have ended differently. The teams in Europe raise the pace, especially at home. These matches are prepared differently and we know what we are going for match, we cannot make mistakes regardless of the opponent’s attitude.”
Regret for not including Castrovilli on the list?
“I should think back to what had happened in those days… I don’t remember why it wasn’t possible to include him in Europe. But if I have to say words about Gaetano I’ll do so willingly: he’s proving to be a serious boy, with great availability. At the moment in which he will be 100% recovered, the player we all knew will return. Sorry for Sottil: he was starting to feel the goal, to be more incisive, then he got hurt this year between posts, crossbars, wrong results, it was strange. it happens, we have always found solutions and we will do the same tomorrow.”
Did you grow up with Fiorentina? Do you always feel like you have something to prove?
“Honestly, from an individual point of view I don’t think much, I just want to reach the final with the boys. I’m not interested in individual goals, I just want to fulfill yet another dream and we have to do it collectively. At the beginning of my journey here I wanted to play in cups , going to Europe, and we did it in the first year. 17 games last year, 13 this year… 30 in two years, an important baggage, which has made us all grow. The European experience is beautiful and I’m happy to have faced it with these guys, for us every match is life or death. When they called me and gave me the chance to coach Fiorentina it was nice, when I faced them as a footballer it was exciting. We are all demanding and we all want the best , both us and the fans and even disappointment can make you improve and give you motivation to grow. I have always put my heart into it and given my best, I hope to be able to reach the final but the path remains positive for the emotions I have experienced. to the fans. And I repeat, being the coach of Fiorentina is an exaggerated privilege.”
What do you think of Club Brugge?
“We studied him, we saw what he proposes, what he does when he restarts and when he defends. I think he will propose the same thought as the first leg, obviously raising the pace. They will necessarily have to risk something and there we will have to be good, bringing a few more men in our half of the pitch and do badly when we get out of their pressure. These matches are decided by individual plays, episodes for or against. This is why we need maximum attention and zero drops in tension. This challenge leads us to play for the trophy and certain aspects do the difference”.
What has changed for Nzola? What can you give in this season finale?
“I confirm everyone’s feelings, in the first leg when he entered from the first ball you could see a different spirit and another desire. With Hellas in my opinion he played another excellent match, he could have even scored. For me it is recovered from a mental point of view, if he is physically well he can give a lot in terms of size and speed. These are important games and having him available, mentally fit, can help us and give us a lot. .
7.23pm, the press conference ends