Francesco ‘Ciccio’ Baiano says Cesare Prandelli was brave to resign as Fiorentina coach and advises Napoli not to part ways with Gennaro Gattuso in an exclusive interview with Football Italia.
Prandelli suddenly resigned as Fiorentina coach today. In November, he had returned to the club to replace Beppe Iachini and won six of his 23 games in charge of the Tuscans. His decision, however, was not down to sporting factors.
Francesco ‘Ciccio’ Baiano says Cesare Prandelli was brave to resign as Fiorentina coach and advises Napoli not to part ways with Gennaro Gattuso in an exclusive interview with Football Italia.
Prandelli suddenly resigned as Fiorentina coach today. In November, he had returned to the club to replace Beppe Iachini and won six of his 23 games in charge of the Tuscans. His decision, however, was not down to sporting factors.
“I have changed, for sure, and the world goes faster than I thought. I believe that the moment has arrived to stop being carried away by this spend and to stop to find who I really am,” the former Italy coach wrote in a letter published by Fiorentina shortly after the announcement of his resignation.
“I didn’t expect that. I think nobody did. After the game against Benevento, he looked exhausted,” Baiano, 53, said in an exclusive interview with Football Italia.
“Then Fiorentina lost against Milan, but they put in an excellent performance. They didn’t deserve to lose.
“Prandelli’s resignation came as a huge surprise for all of us. Nobody expected that.”
Prandelli said the “world of football is no longer for me and I don’t recognise myself in it anymore.” It’s not the first time he openly expresses his feelings. It’s very rare in football nowadays…
“When he resigned as Roma coach, it was because he had a serious problem in his family. It had nothing to do with football. This is a country where nobody ever resigns. On the contrary, he had the courage to do so, and he must be proud of that.”
Giuseppe Iachini will return to Fiorentina until the end of the season, but who’s the right coach for 2021-22?
“The name of the new coach will be who Fiorentina want to be. There are many rumours. The fans are disappointed and expect a top coach to begin a new long-term project and not something that changes after two, three months. Nobody has a magic wand; it takes time to work. The new coach must be put into the best conditions and have the right players to put his ideas into practice.”
You were born in Naples and you played at Napoli. Would you replace Gattuso?
“Honestly, no, but it’s not up to me. Think about what Gattuso has done and in which conditions he had to work. There were so many injuries. Dries Mertens, Victor Osimhen and even Andrea Petagna got injured simultaneously, and they remained on the sidelines for so long. He played without three strikers. Then the two starting centre-backs had physical issues. Despite all that, he is in the race for the top four.
“Gattuso has done a good job. I wouldn’t replace him. But I am not the President of Napoli. It’s almost 100 per cent sure he won’t be the Napoli coach next season.”
You played under Maurizio Sarri at Sangiovannese, at the beginning of his coaching career. Where do you think he will end up?
“I often talk to him, but we never talk about that. We talk about football. We comment on games and players. Honestly, I don’t know where he will go. I will read that on the papers, these are personal things and we never discuss that. We’ve never spoken about his future.”
You spent two years and a half at Derby County, how was that?
“It was an amazing experience, with some great teammates. There was Stefano Eranio too, and I will forever remember my time in England. I was lucky to play in the Premier League, I’ve always followed it and it gave me more emotions than playing in Serie A, even if I am Italian.”
What’s the first thing you remember about your time in England?
“The stadium. As soon as I arrived, I asked to go there. It was extraordinary. I immediately understood I was going to play for a great club. It was not a top team, but it was a significant club, and the stadium always mirrors the club’s image.”