Cesare Prandelli admits he was ‘excessively involved’ with Fiorentina and had to walk away, but his love for the club will ‘continue as long as I breathe air.’
The coach turns 64 next month, but has to all intents and purposes retired after abruptly resigning from the Viola job on March 23.
He had only arrived on November 9 and lasted 23 games, but felt the pressure too keenly and quit due to health concerns.
“The last few months changed nothing, because I continue to feel that I am a Fiorentino through and through,” Prandelli told the Corriere Fiorentino newspaper.
“My rapport with the city remains identical and will never change, if anything I felt even more affection, because the people I meet recognise and appreciate the sense of responsibility that pushed me to leave.
“I arrived with too many expectations, I was excessively involved and that is not right, because you need at least 30 per cent to set aside and be an individual, otherwise you don’t work well.
“I will fully admit, I was unable to manage that detachment in Florence. I have no regrets, that is just what I am like, and my love story with Florence has been going for years. It will continue as long as I breathe air.”
It was Prandelli’s second spell at the Stadio Franchi after 2005-10, when he left to take over the Italy squad.