Dodò joking with everyone, Nico and Arthur challenging each other with volleys, Biraghi taking a hit in a practice match and Mister Italiano walking alone, immersed in thoughts that lead to Athens and to the night that can transform into a sort of selvage with which to erase the bitterness of a year ago.
The Media Day wanted by UEFA at Viola Park it is the opportunity to open the doors of the Bagno a Ripoli sports center and talk about these feverish days, between waiting and hopes. The players parade in front of the microphones of sites and TVs (there were even those sent from Greece), the balls and microphones are all branded “Conference League”, while the purple site broadcasts a live broadcast to let the fans connected to the network experience Fiorentina’s approach to the second consecutive European final: «The bitterness accumulated in the final lost against West Ham must galvanize us – explains Vincenzo Italiano – we are more experienced and aware and we know that every detail can make the difference. This three-year period in Florence has been fantastic, I will carry this great affection with me and I would like to see the fans rejoice.” Words that smack of farewell, even if Italiano glosses over this for now: «We are focused on the present, the rest comes later».
Naturally present which also means Cagliari.
Tonight in Sardinia, in fact, Fiorentina will play to earn the points they lack to earn European qualificationregardless of the outcome of the final against Olympiacos: «Cagliari is important, I will choose the lineup also based on the players’ physical recovery ability».
The coach’s idea, considering the weight of the two close matches, is to manage forces, resources and men. This does not mean that tonight we will see a Fiorentina 2 but that he and his staff will make choices based on data, calculations, playing time and the condition of each individual player. In fact, in Italiano’s mind the formation that will have to play from the start of the final in Athens is already quite clear and it is no coincidence that for weeks it has been moving forward following a very precise path that holds two objectives together: bring next Wednesday’s potential starters to the top without neglecting the championship. A line that will also be maintained against Cagliari, given that the Viola need to win to close the conversation for eighth place. So take the three points, but without squeezing the most important men too much. This is the goal.
For this reason, in short, in Cagliari you will see a team that will be a sort of middle ground between the one on Monday evening against Napoli (very similar to the best possible one) and the totally revolutionized one that had played against both Salernitana and Verona.
«The city is pushing, there’s a final in the air and all this creates positive energy – concludes Milenkovic, one of the old guard (he has been here since 2017) who would pay out of his own pocket to get the cup at home – I haven’t scored yet this year, maybe in Athens I will have the opportunity…” .
But first there is Ranieri’s Cagliari. And a place in Europe to hold onto.
