Vincenzo Italiano hopes Fiorentina can channel the pain of defeat to West Ham 12 months ago into UEFA Europa Conference League glory against Olympiacos.
La Viola came from behind in the 2022/23 final to level against the Londoners before Jarrod Bowen’s 90th-minute winner broke Fiorentina hearts.
The Florence side have lost four of their five European finals, only winning the 1961 Cup Winners Cup, and have not lifted any silverware since the Coppa Italia in 2001.
They will try to end that run against the Greek giants in Athens on Wednesday night and Fiorentina boss Italiano said in his pre-match press conference that his players need to show ‘fury.’
“They are strong, we are strong,” he said, “It’s a 50-50 match, we have a little more experience. Tomorrow we must try to do everything we can to avoid making mistakes, with fire inside, giving everything we have.
“Last year it wasn’t a good ending, we remember that, but now we have more experience and we have to make the most of it.
“We must never lose our identity, that footballing belief, the organisation that has brought us this far (and) fury – competitive fury – that must never be missing.”
📈 The form table heading into the #UECLfinal 👀
ℹ️ League and Europe@Swissquote || #UECLformguide || #UECL pic.twitter.com/ljtssNZgPu
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) May 28, 2024
Italiano says he remembers the faces of his players after their last gasp defeat to West Ham and insisted: “I don’t want to see them. Prague hurt me, them, and all of Florence. I don’t want to see those faces like that anymore.”
After three successful years with La Viola Italiano’s name has been linked with higher-profile jobs but he insists his future would only be discussed after the final.
“The phone is often turned off,” he said, “it’s silent, and not I’m not interested in hearing about anything other than the final.”
Italiano joked Fiorentina had brought…
Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/europa-conference-league-fiorentina/
Author : Alex Hoad
Publish date : 2024-05-28 16:35:27
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