Stefano Pioli acknowledges Fiorentina ‘played better’ than Milan on the night, but the Champions League showdown with Tottenham Hotspur will be ‘a very different match.’
The Rossoneri had managed four consecutive victories in all competition without conceding, but were finally beaten by a Nico Gonzalez penalty for the Fikayo Tomori foul on Jonathan Ikone.
Luka Jovic then doubled Fiorentina’s lead with a diving header on Dodo’s cross, while a Theo Hernandez thunderbolt into the near top corner was too late to turn it around.
“We prepared the game well, but Fiorentina did better than us especially in the first half, in terms of quality and energy, as they won most of the duels. We did better in the second half and had chances to equalise, while we should’ve done better on the penalty, but the first half performance was not good enough,” Pioli told Sky Sport Italia.
“Fiorentina played better than us today. That is not because our minds were on Tottenham, we simply should’ve done better in many areas. There are many games to go this season, but this is a setback that we could’ve done without. It was not the same performance we saw against Atalanta last week.”
Tottenham also lost today in the Premier League, 1-0 to Wolves, and so confidence is low from both sides going into the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie in London on Wednesday.
“It will be a different match, it’s a knockout round and tonight’s performance won’t influence us, just as Tottenham’s two consecutive defeats won’t influence them. It is a very important match for both teams, we will both play to the best of our abilities.
“I more or less have an idea on who to play. Ismael Bennacer came back after a month out and was not fully fit, we also have to see how Brahim Diaz is doing. It will be a very different game, because Tottenham are a different shape to Fiorentina and many other elements. We’ll be prepared.”
The Rossoneri’s march towards the Scudetto last season was built largely on their excellent away record, but this term they already have four defeats and four draws on their travels.
“It is true, but also strange considering the statistics we always had. We must try to do much better for the rest of the season, as we have the quality to do better than we did tonight.
“We ran a lot today, but didn’t run smart, we weren’t solid enough to stop them developing the play from the back and that meant we were caught out of shape, especially in the first half.”
Charles De Ketelaere again made little impact in a rare start, filling in for injured Brahim Diaz and with Rafael Leao suspended.
“He did some good things, but when our attack isn’t fluid and we can’t get past the Fiorentina press, it becomes tough for the forwards too. He moved well, but the whole team could’ve done better in the movement off the ball to create spaces and get around their press. We had the chances to equalise and unfortunately didn’t take them.”
This was also an emotional night at the Stadio Franchi, the fifth anniversary of Davide Astori’s death, and it was fitting that Pioli should be back here, seeing as he was the Viola coach during that tragic time in March 2018 and has a DA13 tattoo on his wrist.
“Clearly, this is always a special game for me, let alone it being on the date of what happened five years ago. I just met with Bruno, Davide’s brother. The people of Florence know what happened and know how wonderful Davide was.”
Tonali and Bennacer as a pair neither have the ability or physicality to impose themselves vs decent opposition. Seen that all season.