Beppe Iachini explains why Fiorentina’s tactical plan was ruined by an early Roma goal in the 2-0 defeat. ‘We got intimidated and that must not happen.’
The Viola had started brightly at the Stadio Olimpico with several chances, but after Leonardo Spinazzola’s goal against the run of play, never really recovered.
Beppe Iachini explains why Fiorentina’s tactical plan was ruined by an early Roma goal in the 2-0 defeat. ‘We got intimidated and that must not happen.’
The Viola had started brightly at the Stadio Olimpico with several chances, but after Leonardo Spinazzola’s goal against the run of play, never really recovered.
“We did start strong and had quite a few scoring opportunities in the first 15 minutes, showing the right attitude,” Iachini told Sky Sport Italia.
“We had prepared to attack this game and be aggressive from the start. Unfortunately, after a mistake in defence on a long ball, we didn’t maintain that initial attitude, instead getting intimidated. That must not happen, we have to stay in the game.
“There were more chances after the break, but we were lacking something in the final ball. The second goal was then damaging psychologically. We were also missing our captain, German Pezzella, who really guides the defence.”
Iachini opted for an all-new front pairing of Franck Ribery and Jose Callejon, neither of them really strikers, and the experiment didn’t pay off.
“They had started well, as Callejon got into the box in a couple of situations. We got the final ball wrong. The intention was right, then Roma’s goal changed the game,” insisted the coach.
“We tried to use quick strikers to hurt the Roma defence, to tire them out, then after the break introduce the strikers to try and win. That was the plan, unfortunately we conceded early and that changed the game.”