Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic admits they ‘should not have conceded such an easy goal’ to lose the Conference League Final to West Ham United. ‘It hurts to lose like that.’
It felt like déjà vu for the Viola, who had also played very well in the Coppa Italia Final to Inter only to be undone by the counter-attack on May 24.
“It hurts, to lose like that. Again today we played really well, but we need to always be concentrated, especially in the final moments. We should not have conceded such an easy goal,” Milenkovic told Sky Sport Italia after the 2-1 defeat.
“We played as a team today, but in some situations we need to be more concentrated. We took the initiative, controlled possession, the way we always do.
“Unfortunately, that perception of danger, smelling the danger, that is where we struggle and we paid for it again tonight.”
It was classic route one, as a lucky ricochet fell West Ham’s way and Lucas Paqueta thought faster than anyone to put the through ball at the right moment.
Igor, who had just come on for Luca Ranieri after the Italian suffered from cramp, was keeping Jarrod Bowen onside.
“We always defend high and knew West Ham would go for that through ball. Unfortunately, we got it wrong once and it made all the difference because this is a Final.”
Cristiano Biraghi’s handball had given West Ham the lead from the penalty spot, cancelled out by a splendid Giacomo Bonaventura solo effort.
The defeat also means Fiorentina will not qualify for the Europa League and must wait and hope Juventus are excluded by UEFA if they are to get into the Conference League.