Fiorentina Coach Stefano Pioli called for his side to build upon captain Davide Astori’s legacy after today’s win over Benevento.
On an emotional afternoon at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Viola emerged victorious in their first match since the defender tragically died in his sleep in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
Fiorentina Coach Stefano Pioli called for his side to build upon captain Davide Astori’s legacy after today’s win over Benevento.
On an emotional afternoon at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, the Viola emerged victorious in their first match since the defender tragically died in his sleep in the early hours of last Sunday morning.
And speaking after the 1-0 win over Le Streghe, Pioli paid tribute to Astori and added that his team would emerge from the tragedy even more united than they were beforehand.
“Davide transmitted values. He is a person that, for anyone who was lucky enough to know him, you could only appreciate.
“Davide put the maximum into his profession.
“It has definintely been a week that I would not wish on anyone else.
“I have looked to stay close to all the players, everyone has their own feelings and everyone is living through the pain in their own way.
“If we were a united group beforehand, we are even more so now.”
Pioli was asked whether Astori leaves behind a legacy.
“He absolutely does. We need to do well and take it forward and make sure that Davide’s memory is always present in us.
“It’s clear that today it was important to break the ice, even though things will never be the same for everyone.
“But we need to take forward what he taught us. He was always positive and he thought that this was the right way of doing things.”
The only goal of the match was scored by defender Vitor Hugo, Astori’s replacement in the Fiorentina line-up
“You need to believe in something in life. It was right that things went the way they did,” Pioli concluded.