Fiorentina boss Beppe Iachini says they wanted to buy even more players in the January transfer window, and reminisced about Roberto Baggio, Gabriel Batistuta and Paulo Dybala.
The Viola travel to Turin to face Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, the game kicks off at 11:30 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
Fiorentina boss Beppe Iachini says they wanted to buy even more players in the January transfer window, and reminisced about Roberto Baggio, Gabriel Batistuta and Paulo Dybala.
The Viola travel to Turin to face Juventus at the Allianz Stadium, the game kicks off at 11:30 GMT. You can read the match preview here.
The Viola were one of the busiest clubs in the January transfer window, signing the likes of Patrick Cutrone, Duncan, Igor and Kevin Agudelo, whilst securing Christian Kouame and Amrabat for next season.
“We had our strategy and worked with logic, taking players for now but also for the future, such as Christian Kouame and Sofyan Amrabat,” said Iachini in his press conference.
“The club would’ve liked to have done more in the market but we didn’t succeed. The will was there to go and add more elements. But now the market is over, and we have to only think about what happens on the pitch.”
Fiorentina played in the Coppa Italia in midweek against inter, whilst Juve had a week of rest.
“For the city of Florence it is a very important game. My only regret is that we are in an emergency.
“We still want to play our game with those who are available. The perfect match will be needed, their champions can always solve a match.
“We need to recover our energy, we played on Wednesday, whilst Juve had a week off. I don’t want to make excuses, it’s just a statement, and I won’t say it again.
“It would’ve been better if we had all played together in the cup.”
Iachini played for the Viola in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and was asked about his best memories of this fixture.
“The first game was with Baggio, then in the next one we marked Baggio. Sometimes we won, sometimes we didn’t.”
Iachini states that new signing Igor may play, but that Duncan is unavailable.
“It’s an idea for Igor to play, we will work on the pitch and through videos to see if he can play from the start.
“Duncan is not available at the moment, the medical staff will tell us how long it will take to get him on to the pitch.”
Iachini coached a young Paulo Dybala whilst the pair were at Palermo, so what does the Fiorentina coach think of La Joya now?
“Today he is one of the strongest strikers in the world but he was already visible when he was 18, when I helped him.
“He still didn’t have a specific role, then we talked to each other and we understood that his role was a striker.
“We did a great job together, he is a golden boy and he always wants to learn, improve and grow. Today he is more mature, he is aware of his own strength.”
Legendary Viola hitman Gabriel Batistuta is 51 today, and Iachini wishes him all the very best.
“Batistuta is a friend of mine, I am very fond and attached to him. We spent a lot of time together, sharing many emotions with this shirt.
“I wish him well and I hope that his health is okay after his ankle problems.
“I hope he can have a second career in football after his splendid playing career. He deserves an important role in this world.”