Vincenzo Italiano hails Fiorentina for shaking off the disappointment of losing the Coppa Italia by completing the comeback with Roma. ‘Now build confidence and enthusiasm for the Conference League.’
The Viola seemed initially still shaken by their midweek Coppa Italia Final defeat to Inter, going a goal down to Stephan El Shaarawy’s strike and then risking more denied by Michele Cerofolini and a Lucas Martinez Quarta goal-line clearance.
Instead, the hosts turned it around with two goals in a three-minute spell from Luka Jovic and Jonathan Ikone, both on Christian Kouame assists.
“We cannot always create many, many scoring opportunities, but when you get into those positions, you need to be cool-headed and clinical, the way we were today,” Italiano told DAZN.
“In the second half we got ourselves into some great situations and at the end we were rewarded, because we put so much heart into this match. We wanted to win for our fans.”
It is the right morale-booster to help prepare for the Conference League Final against West Ham United on June 7 in Prague and a way to get over the Coppa Italia Final.
“After the final whistle at the Stadio Olimpico, the fans called us over and they realised we gave our heart and soul, people recognise that from a team. Now we mustn’t give up, because there’s one more Serie A game to play and then the Conference League Final that will conclude what I think has been an extraordinary campaign.
“It is not easy to shake off that disappointment of losing a Final, but we must try to build confidence and enthusiasm for the Conference League, including with performances like this.”
This victory in Serie A also keeps Fiorentina in the running for eighth place, which could be worth a spot in the Conference League.
If Juventus are excluded from all UEFA tournaments over Financial Fair Play violations, then logically the Europa League and Conference League places would be bumped down.