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Vanoli presents himself at Fiorentina along with the new sporting director Roberto Goretti: “We know that difficult challenges await us, but we want to lift the team.”

Paolo Vanoli presented himself today at the Wind3 Media Center in a press conference with the new sporting director Roberto Goretti. The coach discussed the challenges and difficulties facing Fiorentina, in one of the most delicate and complex moments in recent years for the Viola club.

Vanoli’s press conference

Why is it a challenge?
“I want to start by offering my condolences to Amir because he has suffered a significant loss (his father, ed). Why is it a challenge? Because I know what Florence is and I know that the club has shown great growth. These challenges motivate me, give me energy, but above all, they don’t scare me. I know the road will be long and difficult, which is why we need to be clear-headed. To get out of this situation will take time, sacrifice, and work. Let’s forget about the January transfer window. I’ve heard many things about the summer preparation: I don’t want to compare myself to someone who has done things for the good of Fiorentina (Pioli, ed), talking about this or the transfer market wouldn’t be correct. Let’s focus on the next game, which will be important and difficult.”

Is it possible to have a survival Fiorentina in the league and a big team in Europe?
“We have to work from game to game. The league has one goal, while the Cup has another goal. Right now, the mistake is thinking about what we can do. We have to take small steps: in the league, focus on the league, in the Cup, on the Cup. Let’s set small goals, otherwise we risk ‘falling out’. I told the players that we are at the bottom of the table and now we have to get under it, starting with me. I got a first response in Genoa, but we have to keep playing. I’ve been in winning teams and there was the humility of the winner, not the arrogance of the winner. This place, the Viola Park, which excites me, must become a means to win, to give everyone something more. It’s useless to look back, let’s look forward. That’s why I’m not looking at the transfer market.”

In the last week, we saw some questionable choices from players on social media: how do you build mentality and how long does it take?
“We must also teach how to behave. Players are kids, who sometimes make mistakes because they’re in a ‘Big Brother’. When there are mistakes, we simply have to take the player, make him sit down, and tell him how to behave. That too must be a growth: understanding why a boy makes a certain mistake.”

How do you plan to work on defense?
“If we look at the data, we have to admit that we need to work a bit on everything. First, we want to start with the simplest things, with compactness. We concede many goals from set-pieces, and in one training session, I tried man-marking on corners. We need to be more attentive, as seen in the goals conceded in Genoa. Change of formation? Last year, I started with some ideas, then with Zapata’s injury, I understood that I had to change something. Today, however, we start from the basics, then we can change and think about something new. In Genoa, we weren’t good at closing the game, but we understood that we should at least bring the draw home. We have to try to win, but we must not lose.”

You have always experienced protest contexts in recent years: what is the role of the coach in these cases?
“I don’t know if it’s luck or misfortune to experience such situations. Today, we have to be the ones to win back our fans by showing them sacrifice, desire, and grit on the field. In these situations, we have to take our responsibilities: we are the ones who have ended up in this situation, and we have to get out of it.”

What are the critical issues and strengths of the dressing room?
“What we have seen little of is the fragility with which we concede goals. When I arrived here, I was afraid, which is a positive feeling that makes us more attentive and focused. My fear was that the players were not aware of having this fear. Fiorentina had other objectives, and it’s not easy to change them. But the squad has the quality to get out, if they play with humility. I have to tell the truth: I didn’t expect the group to respond so quickly. The group is hungry and eager to get out. Fagioli? He has quality, he can play as a midfielder and a playmaker. He has to show me who he is. I tell the players: that’s the field, it’s up to you now. With me, it’s not about who’s good but who brings results. It’s a step he has to take, but all of them. Mentality starts from the head, not the feet. I told the players that I would like to be in their place… when I see the team drop at 60 minutes, with five changes, it pisses me off. Anyone who comes in must raise the level.”

Why did you decide on double training sessions?
“Because I like to work. We have a nice facility, we can sleep there, so I take advantage of it. Then I want to get to know the guys and make them understand my idea. I clarify about the preparation: this morning, I did the physical tests, not to know the conditions, but to understand how I can work on what is my method. If I make a player run like a hare and then he breaks… This is my methodology, and I have to be careful at this moment with many factors. So I reiterate: this morning I did the tests, but not for a condition issue.”

Have you figured out which strings to touch on Gudmundsson?
“I don’t have to understand him, he has to understand me… and quickly too. He and Fagioli are important players because they have quality. He has an advantage: in Genoa, he fought to survive. He is an important player, we rely on him, but today everyone has to fight for their teammates: attackers must be the first defenders and defenders the first attackers.”

What quality gives you the most confidence?
“The response I got on a tough field last Sunday. The group is healthy, young, with great potential.”

Pioli made a joke about the whiteboard and the Champions League, would you write something on the whiteboard?
“I told the guys that we have an opportunity to write a new page. In life, if these things happen, it means you made a mistake, but football also gives you a chance to make up for it. In Genoa, the first piece is there to work on. Thinking back would kill us. A message for the future? Let’s be strong tomorrow morning and pedal tomorrow afternoon…”

Are Kean and Piccoli compatible?
“We have to exploit our attacking options. The club has worked well, and now it’s up to me to bring it all together. Today, I have to figure out how to put the attackers in a position to score. Piccoli and Kean have similar characteristics, but in the future, I don’t exclude that they can play together. Right now, that’s not the priority, but if they play together, they have to be good at serving each other. The Fiorentina shirt is heavy, and many young players, coming from different backgrounds, have to understand that they are coming to a place that wants to win and has demanding fans.”

Is playing in an empty stadium an additional difficulty?
“Certainly, but it’s a phase we knew and it shouldn’t be an excuse. The fans always support us, they did it even in Genoa. Today, it’s up to us to show what we’re made of.”