The former Fiorentina coach Alberto Malesani spoke to the microphones of RadioFirenzeVioladuring “Garrisca al Vento”, starting with a consideration on Vincenzo Italiano: “I have always been objective about Italiano. I have always defended him because it was easy for me to do so: he is one of the best in the Serie A panorama. I think he is ready to the big leap, which he can also make in Fiorentina if the club provides him with further quality. Personally, I hope he stays, but these are personal paths and everyone makes their own choices. I’m also ready for one of the 3/4 Italian big teams : three finals are never easy to reach and in these there is a lot of credit to him, as well as to all of Fiorentina itself, including the fans.”
As a former Panathinaikos coach, what does it mean to play in Athens against Olympiacos?
“Now it becomes difficult: we need the feat. I know the environment because I have experienced it firsthand. Olympiacos has always excelled and is used to winning. Playing “at home” they are dangerous. It will take a Fiorentina perfect, but I am sure that the Viola will do their part for this undertaking.”
More on Italian: “The suit that Vincenzo put on Fiorentina is the European one, because to win in Europe you have to follow a different path than the one you follow in the championship. In the international field you don’t make calculations, the matches are all inside or outside. And Italiano has a game that fully represents European DNA. Among other things, for me he’s not even as unscrupulous as many think.”
Fiorentina follows profiles of young coaches, she too was young when she came to Florence.
“I’ll tell you an anecdote: Fiorentina didn’t take me just because I was a young coach on the rise. They followed me for ten days during my training in Verona and watched me in various matches. There was a great job by Cinquini and Antognoni If this scouting work has been done now, it’s fine. The important thing is to make decisions after having examined the various technicians, and not following the “fashion” of the moment. I would also add that in case Italiano were to leave, it is necessary to take a coach who knows how to handle the square of Florence, a demanding city that has connoisseur and pretentious fans.”
Will he go to Athens?
“It would be nice, I have good memories of Greece. Even there, like in Florence, it was one of the places where they loved me the most. I don’t plan to go but now you’ve got me worried… Let’s see, come on (laughs, ed.)”.