Vincenzo Italiano hails Fiorentina for taking the game to FC Basel throughout extra time and showing ‘immense hunger’ that they’ll also call on in the Conference League Final against West Ham United.
The night was certainly dramatic in Switzerland, sometimes for the wrong reasons, because during extra time play was halted for almost 10 minutes when a fan in the away section was taken ill.
The supporter was put on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital, where Sky Sport Italia report they are recovering well.
As for the match itself, the Viola had to overturn a 2-1 first leg defeat and did that with an identical result at the St. Jakob-Park, until Antonin Barak snatched the victory on aggregate in the final moments of extra time.
“The joy is incredible. Coming here and playing a game like this with three goals, showing this immense hunger to reach the Final. We suffered so much to get here both last season and starting early,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.
“The lads were simply extraordinary, because it is not easy to come here and play with this character and quality. We are rewarded for that, we now have two Finals to play along with the Coppa Italia and it has been a fantastic journey.”
Fiorentina will play against Inter in the Coppa Italia Final on May 24, then West Ham United in the Conference League Final in Prague on June 7.
“I am happy because when you start a new project, bring new principles in and add many new players, you are rewarded for this desire, sacrifice and hunger. If I had to choose between the Coppa Italia Final or the Conference League, I’d have chosen the European one. Fortunately, we got both!
“I dedicate it to the lads, they were so concentrated and hungry. After the final tactical meeting, they let out this huge round of applause that fired everyone up, even the waiters who were in the hotel. We proved all that desire on the field today.
“Scoring in the final minutes of extra time after a game like that, it was such a sense of liberation.”
Fiorentina are the underdogs in both those Finals, especially on a financial level, but have shown they can cause upsets already this season.
“On paper, the opponents are stronger than us, but we will study them, fight hard and push to the end to achieve the maximum result.”
For the first time in 29 years, there are Italian representatives in the Final of all three European tournaments, as Inter face Manchester City in the Champions League and Roma will play Sevilla in the Europa League.
“It’s wonderful, Italian football shows that it is returning to an important level. All three deserved to reach the Final, we will all give heart and soul to achieve victory. Even reaching the Finals is a fantastic achievement for our country and our football movement.”