Fiorentina Manager Demands Improvement Despite Advancing in Conference League
Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino has called for his team to improve their performance, despite securing a place in the Conference League semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate victory over Celje. The Italian side won the first leg 2-1 in Slovenia but faced a tough challenge in the return match at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Rolando Mandragora opened the scoring for Fiorentina, but Celje quickly equalized and took the lead through goals from Aljosa Matko and Klemen Nemanic. However, Moise Kean’s strike ensured Fiorentina’s progression to the next round.
Palladino Highlights Areas for Improvement
“While there are some positives, I see many areas where we need to improve,” Palladino told reporters. “We achieved our goal of reaching the semi-finals, but we must learn from our mistakes. We cannot afford to stop playing and allow our opponents to take control.”
The coach emphasized the need for his team to maintain consistent performance throughout matches, stating, “What we lack is the ability to handle different phases of the game. We pay a heavy price for even the slightest lapse in concentration.”
Kean’s Impressive Form Continues
Palladino praised striker Moise Kean, who has now scored 23 goals with three assists in 39 competitive games this season. “Moise is having an incredible season, and we saw his quality again today. I admire his consistently positive attitude, regardless of whether he scores,” the coach added.
Tensions Rise with Celje Manager
The match conclusion was marred by a heated exchange between Palladino and Celje coach Albert Riera. Palladino responded to Riera’s post-match comments, saying, “There must be respect between colleagues. He lacked that in the first leg, and I simply reminded him of its importance.”
Fiorentina will face Real Betis in the Conference League semi-finals, with Palladino acknowledging the challenge ahead: “Mentality is crucial. Against top teams, we need 110% concentration. We aim to go all the way in this competition.”