Beppe Iachini insists Fiorentina ‘played the way we had to’ in their 0-0 draw with ‘a very defensive Parma who sat deep.’
There were reports his job was on the line, with Cesare Prandelli ready to take over, so this dull performance will have done little to boost his chances.
Beppe Iachini insists Fiorentina ‘played the way we had to’ in their 0-0 draw with ‘a very defensive Parma who sat deep.’
There were reports his job was on the line, with Cesare Prandelli ready to take over, so this dull performance will have done little to boost his chances.
“The team played the way it had to, trying to take the initiative, dominate the ball, play with pace and quality, but we were up against a Parma side that sat very deep and we just needed that pass to really break the deadlock,” Iachini told DAZN.
“The longer time went on without a goal, the deeper they sat, and Parma can really hurt you on the counter with the pace of Gervinho and Yann Karamoh, so we did well to not allow them any shots on goal.
“Unfortunately, these are the difficulties when trying to break down a very defensive opponent. We did play with two strikers, plus our midfielders push forward and Cristiano Biraghi had several efforts.
“We needed to break that deadlock, we didn’t manage it, so the result was a consequence of that. I saw the spirit that I wanted, it’s just the final ball that was missing. We need to work on that for the next time we’re against a very defensive team.
“The team played, Parma are a side who held Inter 2-2 last week in Milan, so I can’t reproach my players for anything. Luigi Sepe was man of the match for Parma, which means Fiorentina had shots on target.”
Inevitably, Iachini had to be asked about the reports this was his last game on the Fiorentina bench.
“There were already rumours last season, we worked very hard after the lockdown and reached 10th place. We did very well the first two games this season, lost a few players to injury and even in training that can have an effect, especially when they are the more experienced figures who can guide the others.
“We conceded a few naïve goals and that made our position in the table suffer. We just need to rediscover the form we had at the start of the season.
“After that, what gets decided or not decided isn’t up to me. I am happy to be at Fiorentina, the club and players have been close to me, I am very fond of this side, so anything after that, we’ll see.”