Fiorentina’s Director of Sport Daniele Pradé reveals the local health authority prevented players from leaving Florence but a FIFA notice ‘obliged’ them to join their national teams.
"I didn’t understand anything,” Pradé said at a press conference.
Fiorentina’s Director of Sport Daniele Pradé reveals the local health authority prevented players from leaving Florence but a FIFA notice ‘obliged’ them to join their national teams.
"I didn’t understand anything,” Pradé said at a press conference.
“Yesterday the ASL said that we are in quarantine until November 14 but we also received a notice of FIFA that says the players are obliged to leave. There’s a lack of clarity, we don’t know who to answer to. We will try to take all the right steps for this situation, we wait as events evolve."
Pradé thanked Giuseppe Iachini and explained why La Viola hired Cesare Prandelli as an interim coach.
“I want to thank Beppe also on behalf of president Rocco Commisso and Joe Barone. It was a honor to work with him, professionally he gave me a lot. We have a great relationship but that’s what can happen in sport.
"The change was made to restore enthusiasm, give a different vitality. I expect two things from him: union with the city and with the fans. I expect to see that empathy, that we missed.
"I know Prandelli very well, as a man and as a coach. His contract runs until the end of the season," he continued.
"We haven’t spoken to the players yet, it’ll happen in an hour or so. This is a very responsible team, I can not say that there was a lack of commitment. There were special situations, many absences.
“I don’t think there is lack of professionalism. We are one of the clubs that feel the most the absence of fans because of Covid, we ask Caesare to rekindle a flame of empathy.
"There are strange games because of Covid. I don't want to make up excuses but this is a strange championship and we need to give players those motivations they need. A team like us can struggle to play without our fans, we are very attached to them. If something doesn't work it's my fault, I am responsible for the technical area. Hopefully, today we start a new patch from the beginning."
Pradé denied reports that said he’d replace Beppe Iachini in the summer.
"The union depends on three people, the president, Joe Barone and me. All decisions are made by mutual agreement. All the choices, starting from Montella and Iachini were shared by all three of us. Several times I read that I would have hired a different coach, no. We decided Iachini and we decided together. I read about [Ivan] Juric or [Roberto] De Zerbi. I am sure that if I wanted one of them, the president would let me take them. We wanted to continue with Iachini at the end of the season and it was a shared decision.”