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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.”