Italy international Angelo Ogbonna believes ‘anything could happen’ in the Conference League Final, as West Ham United ‘respect and recognise the importance’ of Fiorentina.
It will be played in Prague on June 7 and would be an opportunity for either of the two clubs to qualify for the Europa League as well as bring a rare instance of silverware.
“We know that we haven’t had a great season, but we have many players in their first year of the Premier League, so it’s natural to have a dip,” Hammers defender Ogbonna told Sky Sport Italia.
“However, we wanted this Final since the start, it’s been three years that we’ve been trying to give something more in Europe.”
While Inter face Manchester City as the underdogs in the Champions League Final, the Conference League is a more balanced affair on paper.
Fiorentina are the top scorers in the competition and at one stage had a run of nine consecutive victories.
“Italian football is respected here, all my teammates recognise the importance of the league,” assured Italy international Ogbonna.
“We have a great deal of respect, but no fear. Vincenzo Italiano is a good coach, he gets his team playing great football. I note they accept one-on-one situations when not in possession.
“It’s going to be a one-off match, we will go there and play our game. Football is unpredictably, truly anything could happen.”
Defender Ogbonna is now 35 years old and nearing the end of his career, which started at the Torino youth academy.
There were spells at Crotone and Juventus before the transfer to West Ham United in the summer of 2015.
He amassed 13 senior caps for Italy, although none since September 2016.