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Fiorentina in Europe is a different story. 0-3 against Rapid Vienna and first place in the standings. Stefano Pioli had the opportunity to speak to the microphones.

The team of the former Milan coach showed a great display of strength tonight. Despite the great difficulties in the league, in the Conference the Fiorentina seems to be heading in the right direction.

Too early to talk about a comeback? The coach of Fiorentina had the chance to discuss this. Here are the words of Pioli, as reported by tuttomercatoweb.

STEFANO PIOLI THOUGHTFUL LOOKING UP ( PHOTO BY SALVATORE FORNELLI )

Fiorentina, statements by Stefano Pioli

Does this victory confirm the progress seen in previous matches?

“I believe that in these moments you don’t get out by trying to do many things better, but by focusing on a specific situation. Today we focused on being a determined team, a fierce team in terms of aggression, duels, and pressure. We had good answers and maybe next game we will take another step forward in another situation. The answers were the right ones, we interpreted the game well, and we know that the league is a different situation. Now we have to throw ourselves back in with great attention and determination. Next week we will be busy three times against important opponents.”

Fagioli was among the best players on the field for Fiorentina. Can the responses of players who have had less playing time change the hierarchy?

“It depends on them. There is always someone in the coach’s mind who starts a little lower. If those who are below surpass them, they play. The coach needs results and the team needs to win games. There have been two good answers, it’s true. At this moment, until today, in the Conference we have faced good opponents, but of a lower level, in my opinion, compared to our league. But the answers are there and the coach definitely takes them into account.”

Dzeko has stated that he wants to play more. Why don’t you field three attackers?

“The problem is not the players’ willingness. We are trying to find balances and at the moment the team cannot afford more than two offensive players. We have four or five offensive players. It depends on our moment, our balance, our playing structure. Playing with three offensive players at this moment is a bit more complicated. There may be times when we will have more situations, more technical and tactical contents, which will allow us to field an additional attacker, an additional offensive player. Not at this moment. I understand the desire of all my players to play more games, but this is the path I am following. Džeko knows where my office is, if he wants to talk to me. He is an intelligent guy, a strong player, I know that. I have to try to make the best choices for the team. The results are still not what we hope for, but in my opinion, this is the way. He must continue like this and be ready when called upon, as the other players who played for the first time in this game did well. Hierarchies can change because it will depend a lot on the performances of individuals, the team, and above all the results.”

Fiorentina needs to regain positive energy. How do you work on the mental aspect?

“I understand very well, it is clear that it is my task. I arrived here, called by the club, also with my ambition to raise the level. I have created many expectations, many hopes and the start so difficult probably complicated our situation even from an emotional point of view, from mental thickness. Here I have to be good at working on it. I don’t agree so much on last Sunday’s game. Milan, honestly, also because it was a team with several absences, 10 minutes after we took the lead, never gave us the impression of putting us in difficulty. We miserably failed in a situation when we were down to 10, because our captain was out injured, and there was no spark where everyone had to do a little more. If results were to come, we would be more carefree, brighter, even more beautiful in terms of play. When there are certain situations, you come out of them by putting something extra into the game, especially in delicate, difficult moments. Instead, we did all the basics and allowed Milan to regain confidence, when the game was quite under control. My work focuses a lot on the technical-tactical aspect, but absolutely I have always thought that the most important work of a coach is the psychological aspect. All coaches in Serie A or at certain levels anyway have ideas, know how to work, but how much you can get into a player, how much you can convince him that what you do is right, that willingness you can obtain makes the difference.”

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Tonight, at the Olimpico Stadium, the third day of the Europa League was played out in the Roma-Viktoria Plzen match: here’s how it went.

Not even a minute in, Artem Dobvyk almost scores a goal against the visiting team, but the shot is too central.

The game starts with a few too many mistakes from Hermoso and Wesley, and a proactive attitude from Viktoria Plzen, who repeatedly try to score in the first few minutes, forcing Mile Svilar into a miraculous save.

The visitors press high, while Roma tries to regroup mainly relying on Soulé, whose shot goes central. Shortly after, with determination and speed, Viktoria Plzen takes the lead thanks to a goal from Adu, who also bypasses Svilar. A negative trend for Roma as, just 3 minutes after the first goal, they concede again, this time from Souaré.

25 minutes into the game, Roma is losing at home 2-0. Speed is needed, so Gasperini sends Rensch to warm up on the sidelines, while El Shaarawy prepares to enter the game. Meanwhile, Koné raises the technical level of the game with feints and ball possession, making us hope that he won’t leave for Juventus in January in a swap with Koopmeiners.

At the 30th minute, Ziolkowski is substituted by Faraone. A minute later, Wesley attempts a through ball but the opposing goal remains unbreached. The objective for the Magica must be to score at least one goal before the end of the first half. By the 40th minute, the situation is still complex: meanwhile, Koné is down and receiving treatment, and Dybala tries to change the game with a very wide shot that is easily blocked. El Shaarawy also does his job with a shot too high over the crossbar, but the attempt is noteworthy.

The real chance comes at the 45th minute, with Dybala’s corner going directly into the hands of goalkeeper Jedlicka. The last act of the first half is a mistimed cross attempted by Wesley. The Brazilian still has a long way to go to find coordination.

The second half starts with a new substitution: Niccolò Pisilli replaces Manu Koné. An audacious substitution that raises doubts about the condition of the French midfielder.

At the 53rd minute, the referee checks for a possible penalty and awards it to Roma, giving them a great opportunity to reduce the two-goal difference. The Joya doesn’t disappoint: he shoots into the bottom right corner of the goal, cool as usual. With Roma 1-2, El Shaarawy also tries to shake things up, while Gasperini prepares two aces up his sleeve on the sidelines: Ndicka and Bailey.

In this second half, Wesley appears more focused on the goal, as if the coach had reprimanded him in the locker room. However, Roma continues to struggle with precision, with Soulé missing a good shot from outside the box at the 65th minute.
In the end, only Bailey comes on, replacing Celik. For the visiting team, number 24 Abel enters. Gasperini goes all out, choosing to also replace Dovbyk with Ferguson. The surplus of attackers also requires the Soulé-Ndicka substitution.

Despite the coach’s attempt, Ferguson fails to make an impact in this game, replicating the clumsy movements of Dovbyk seen at the end of the first half.

For Plzen, Spacil and Adu exit, while Bello and Zeljkovic come in. In the 86th minute, Bailey also tries his luck with a long shot that misses.

In the last minute of a 5-minute injury time, Roma suffers the blow of a last-minute goal – and a clear offside – from Niccolò Pisilli, one of the last Roma players to come on.

The verdict of this game is that Roma still has a long road ahead of them, requiring strict discipline to find the precision and composure in front of goal that they often lack, both in the league and in Europe. Dybala proves to be the team’s savior, despite his structural weaknesses, and also Svilar, who is not to blame for the goals conceded.

Now, the Giallorossi face several days of hard work ahead.