Vincenzo Italiano admits Fiorentina still ‘didn’t understand what happened’ in their 3-2 Conference League win over SC Braga, as goal-line technology was over-ruled by the referee and a VAR on-field review.
The Viola seemed a little too relaxed after the 4-0 first leg victory, going 2-0 down at the Stadio Artemio Franchi after 35 minutes and wondering if perhaps they were about to throw away an impossible lead.
Rolando Mandragora, Riccardo Saponara and Arthur Cabral managed to turn it around for a 3-2 victory, securing qualification to the Conference League Round of 16 with a 7-2 aggregate triumph.
“What happened was that every game is a different story and they scored with their first two shots on target. We did well to turn it around, but this should remind us that nothing is to be taken for granted, no result is already secure and we had to work for it,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.
There was a truly bizarre moment when the score was still 2-1 for Braga, as Arthur Cabral saw his finish palmed off the line and goal-line technology lit up, insisting the ball had completely crossed the line.
However, the referee disallowed it after over-ruling the technology by viewing the VAR footage, even though the images were really not at all clear.
“I honestly didn’t understand what happened. We saw the images and it looked like the ball crossed over, so we’re not sure what went on. The air of Europe is evidently good for our strikers, they do everything they ought to do and I think we fully deserved qualification.”
Saponara seems to have rediscovered the form he had early in his career after working with Italiano first at Spezia and now Fiorentina.
“He is an intelligent lad who plays with his mind first, then his feet. That is why I picked him today and I think since we met, he has been reborn and become more of a team player, talking to the younger lads and focused on winning. He is even starting to score goals regularly, I am really happy for him.”
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