Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi explains what hurts the most after the Conference League defeat and hopes ‘someone does their job and deals with’ the West Ham fans who pelted him with objects.
The Viola have now lost their second Final in two weeks, as they were beaten 2-1 by Inter in the Coppa Italia Final on May 24, then fell by the same result to West Ham United in the Conference League Final this evening.
“It hurts a lot. Finding the words to describe the horrible sensation we have within us right now is very difficult,” Biraghi told Sky Sport Italia.
Vincenzo Italiano’s men had gone behind to a penalty for Biraghi’s handling offence, got back on track with a wonderful Giacomo Bonaventura solo effort, but were undone in the final minute by Jarrod Bowen springing the offside trap.
“We are dead inside, especially because we are the protagonists on the field, but we carry with us an entire city that over the last two or three weeks has shown how important Fiorentina is for them. We played for them too and the greatest sadness is returning empty-handed.
“What hurts even more is that West Ham weren’t irresistible, but we’ll analyse the game later.”
The game was also overshadowed by violent scenes inside the Eden Arena in Prague, as every time Biraghi went to take a corner in the first half, he was pelted with plastic beer glasses thrown from the West Ham supporters.
That wasn’t all, as play was halted for several minutes when what appeared to be an electronic cigarette hit Biraghi on the back of the head, leaving him bleeding heavily and needing to play the rest of the match with a large bandage.
“I don’t feel that I need to say anything. I am not judging them, but I hope someone does their job and deals with them.”
Biraghi could easily have gone down and made more of the incident, which until a few years ago would’ve seen the game suspended and Fiorentina potentially given the victory by the authorities.
Instead, he stayed on his feet and sarcastically applauded the hooligans behind the goal.