All thanks, obviously, to a coach who, after almost 120 matches in two years, is bringing the squad to top condition at the decisive moment of the season. Despite the mental wear and tear, the physical fatigue, the injuries, another endless season. Despite it all.
The farewell and… a statue
—
In four matches Vincenzo Italiano will say goodbye to Fiorentina and Florence, but he leaves behind an extraordinary football culture. Precisely despite everything he had to swallow from a blind, obtuse and bad faith criticism that fed the belly of the most instinctive fan. If I were Rocco Commisso that statue that he wanted to make of Iachini out of provocation, I would really make it of Vincenzo Italiano.
Three finals and six semi-finals in two years are flagships of the club, numbers to flaunt. Obviously waiting for the last act of this story. A beautiful story, which also has heart and feeling inside.
The pact exists
—
Since March 16th I’ve been telling you about a locker room pact “let’s finish the cycle, but first give a trophy to Rocco”, sanctioned by Joe Barone, Italiano and the team. Those who never know anything but talk have allowed themselves to be ironic.
Now the players tell us about that pact directly in interviews, Italiano revealed it, unfortunately the trophy must be dedicated to Joe Barone, but this too is the great spirit that animates an extraordinary group, capable of giving everything and more for an objective even moral. First of all, they, Italiano and his boys, who have been working for three years to grow and give joy, deserve that trophy.
Against Monza, the victory was born from rational and targeted rotations, great will and a sense of belonging, with the idea of keeping everyone mentally and physically active, measuring out forces, without squeezing anyone or forgetting others, but to get to 29 with all Top staff. There are many things to appreciate about last night, from the concentration to the game, from the performance of some individuals, to the general and generalized performances. When you score eighteen different players it means that the team is moving, there are schemes, a great job in training, modern football is being played.
And that football, that concentration, maturity and character will have to make the difference in Athens. Yes it can.
Who on the bench?
—
Thinking about the future of the bench, I don’t know whether or not yesterday there were direct meetings in Florence to advance the contacts already started with Palladino, I only know that late in the evening the famous radio station always on, Radiomercato, sent the new grid for the purple coach to come.
Palladino is in the lead today, with a very high percentage, they told me ninety percent. We will see. The interest is not new, we will understand if the signature will arrive soon.
Palladino surpassed Aquilani for the two extra years of experience in Serie A, with excellent results. He’s more ready, he can still grow. Aquilani, on the other hand, has only just begun his journey, perhaps something more was expected in Serie B, however putting him today on an important bench like the Viola, directly in Serie A and in Europe, would entail undoubtedly greater unknowns and risks. Palladino is young, plays good football, works with young people, and has surpassed them brilliantly with two years of experience in Serie A. We are waiting for the signature, obviously.
I also wait, changing the subject, for it to grow even more and we are already at embarrassing levels, the pathetic repositioning of the Usual Noti who are licking both Italian and the players with the tongue of anteaters and are also trying to get closer to Commisso now that they have understood that it won’t sell as soon as they hoped. They are all ready to get on the bandwagon, after having written and said things for years that bordered on complaints. All people who have never understood football, but have been raging for years: American ownership was needed to unravel them. And the wagon just doesn’t exist, don’t worry. Don’t worry, the language wears out.
If you want to delve deeper into all the topics on the Fiorentina world without missing any updates, stay connected to Violanews to discover all the day’s news on the Viola in the league and in Europe.
May 14, 2024 (changed May 14, 2024 | 06:25)
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
