Live TMW
5.25pm – In a little while Raffaele Palladino, Fiorentina coachintroduces tomorrow’s Conference League match against the Cypriots Pafos in a press conference from Viola Park (played at 9pm at the Franchi).
5.31pm – The press conference begins.
Could tomorrow be Pongracic’s night?
“Yes, Marin will start from the start tomorrow. He has worked well in this period, he had been out for some time and for us he is an important player who we need to recover. He needs to regain his physical condition and playing time, he came on for a few minutes on Sunday and will be a starter tomorrow. Maximum trust in Marin, I have to get everyone back: we have Gud and Richardson will also be back in the next few days.”
Does the Conference matter as much as the championship?
“Absolutely, tomorrow the objective is to put in a great performance against a very good team, first in their championship and they beat APOEL who beat us in the Conference. They know how to play in defense and attack, it won’t be easy. The reasons are many: we no longer want to lose points along the way and a win would move us up in the standings towards the goal of finishing in the top eight and avoiding the playoff round. We must be fully concentrated.”
How to strike the right chords in the locker room in a moment of enthusiasm? Will Gudmundsson be called up?
“No, Gud will not be among the squad, he returned two days ago with the team although I am happy that he is working well, he did the whole session with us. From Friday he will probably be on a permanent basis with us, we will try to get him back for the Inter. I know everyone is waiting for Sunday but we need to be focused on tomorrow and balanced, the pitfalls are around the corner. It would be a shame, we care a lot about this competition he has great balance and knows how split the competitions, we have to be good at that. Then we think about the magical night, we have to get there well but we go through the Conference.”
How do you see Ikone and Kouame?
“You know how much I care about Johnny, on a human level: he is a very sensitive boy and we were very close to him after what happened to him (the death of his father, ed.). His teammates love him and he reacted to something so heavy. I’m sure he’ll give a great performance tomorrow: he’s fully fired up, he wants to continue on the growth path. As for Christian, his performances are growing: he knows what I want him to give to the team, and I’m sure he’ll give it too here at the next races he will give us a great hand the goal but if he continues like this he will find it again.”
Which Fiorentina will we see tomorrow?
“The best I can field. I have 23 players and 4 goalkeepers who are fantastic: I know that whoever I put on the field will give 100%. But we need to have balance, victory or defeat doesn’t change, we have to play with everyone with serenity. And I tell you that even the defeat in Nicosia doesn’t come after a bad match. Obviously, we always have to put something extra into it: in the Conference there are teams that defend a lot, low, to go on the restart perceive the danger, but whoever takes the field will give their all.”
How is Biraghi? How do you see him in the locker room?
“He is a great professional and a great man: he who was used to always playing as a starter, even if he isn’t finding much space he has always remained available to the group, positive. Exemplary. I am pleasantly struck by his attitude in this period. In the last few He had a calf problem for two weeks: he returned yesterday, he will be called up tomorrow but will start on the bench.”
Is a Fiorentina with Beltran and Gudmundsson together possible?
“We must expect a Fiorentina with the best possible players: those who train well and have a predisposition for the two phases take to the pitch. The more strong players I have on the pitch, the stronger the team is. We can also see them together, as long as everyone is available with the right attitude. It’s up to them, not me.”
5.50pm – The press conference ends.