Paolo Vanoli expressed his deep gratitude to his Fiorentina squad for their “exceptional” performance, which culminated in a 1-1 draw against league leaders Inter. He emphasized that “motivation and desire played a decisive role” following a highly stressful week for the team.
It has been a truly remarkable week for the Viola. On Monday, they confidently defeated Cremonese 4-1, significantly pulling away from the relegation zone. Then, on Thursday, the team secured a 2-1 victory over Polish side Rakow, earning their spot in the Conference League quarter-finals.
Tonight’s match also had a challenging start: within just 40 seconds, Fiorentina conceded a goal from a free header by Francesco Pio Esposito. However, Cher Ndour, showing quick reactions, met the rebound from Yann Sommer’s save on Albert Gudmundsson’s shot, leveling the score at 1-1 and snatching crucial points from Serie A leaders Inter.
Vanoli Proud of Fiorentina’s Fighting Spirit
“I congratulated my lads, because this was the fifth game in fourteen days, and the third in just one week. They proved themselves exceptional, as did my entire coaching staff. The fact that we finished the game in high spirits testifies to our effective work,” Vanoli stated in an interview.
“The early conceded goal certainly destabilized us, but we quickly got back on track. Often in the fifth consecutive match, we faced difficulties, but this time, motivation and desire were the determining factors.”
Following this draw, Fiorentina currently sits in 16th place, just two points clear of both Lecce and Cremonese. This means the battle to avoid relegation from Serie A, and not join the doomed Verona and Pisa, could extend right to the season’s final moments.
“I have always said that this team must play football to save itself,” Vanoli continued.
“Changing the objective to a fight for survival is very challenging, especially in a demanding environment like Florence. We have gradually built up our play, and now we face another very important game against Verona.”
“We are improving our game structure. I feel we can operate better on the left flank with Gudmundsson. But today, we truly excelled by taking shots and delivering crosses from the edge of the box. I believe where we really impressed was in our off-the-ball movement, preventing passes from reaching the opponent’s strikers.”
Fiorentina is also preparing for a Conference League quarter-final clash against Crystal Palace, promising a busy end to the season. Furthermore, many players will soon depart for international duty.
“I wished Kean all the best, as he will represent Italy in two very important matches. After playing 60 minutes on Thursday, he played almost the full 90 minutes today, so his form is improving. I really liked his tireless pressing and effort today.”
