Vincenzo Italiano acknowledges Fiorentina were in control of Monza, but once again showed ‘the wrong attitude’ to fumble a 2-0 lead and lose 3-2. ‘We can be beaten too easily’ and must learn for the Coppa Italia semi-final.
It seems as if the Viola are starting to lose their momentum a little after a remarkable couple of months, as since mid-February they had amassed 11 wins and three draws in all competition.
That was until Thursday’s 3-2 home defeat to Lech Poznan, a painless loss considering they still reach the Conference League semi-final, getting past Lech Poznan 6-4 on aggregate.
They also fumbled a 2-0 lead at the U-Power Stadium this afternoon, capitulating 3-2 to new boys Monza.
“We started very well, but didn’t make the most of Monza having a poor start. We were 2-0 up, doing everything right, but cannot afford these dips in concentration,” Italiano told DAZN.
“To be honest, I think having all these important appointments, it’s no excuse. We cannot just disappear from the match like this and I hope we will learn for the future that we can never have this attitude again.
“Every match is important, we could’ve leapfrogged Bologna today and closed on the teams near the top. We cannot unplug like that, we are a team who were reborn because we all raised the bar. I am convinced the lads know that in the last two matches our spirit wasn’t the same as usual and I think it is purely a matter of attitude.
“When we get the attitude wrong, we become a team that can be beaten too easily. I am angry at losing, but I must try to stay calm and focused, because the appointments coming up are too important.”
Fiorentina already have a 2-0 first leg lead against Cremonese in the Coppa Italia semi-final and play the decider on Thursday.
“We have a small advantage, we are on home turf and it is an opportunity for both Fiorentina and Cremonese to reach an historic Final. The important thing is that we step on the field with a different attitude to the one we had today.”