Paolo Vanoli, the head coach of Fiorentina, held a pre-match press conference today before the team’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. He candidly discussed several topics, including Moise Kean’s fitness issues, acknowledged that Crystal Palace is the favorite, and expressed pride in the significance of the match, despite facing a long list of injuries.
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Kean is struggling with a persistent shin injury, and Vanoli confirmed that the striker was unable to train on Wednesday due to pain in the affected area. “Moise has been dealing with this shin issue for quite some time,” he stated, citing quotes from TuttoMercatoWeb. “After yesterday’s session, he experienced pain and couldn’t train today.”
VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Moise Kean of Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match against Hellas Verona at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images)
This news poses a challenge for Fiorentina, who are already managing several player absences during this crucial part of the season, which Vanoli described as particularly demanding.
Despite the injury challenges, Vanoli pushed back against any notions of a crisis. “I would have preferred to arrive with a full squad because we need everyone against such strong opponents,” he said. “However, the term ‘emergency’ isn’t in my vocabulary. This presents an opportunity for those with less playing time and for our younger players. If we collaborate as a team, we can achieve great things.”
Vanoli has conducted thorough research on Crystal Palace and their manager, Oliver Glasner, whom he has tracked for some time. “Glasner has demonstrated his capabilities in Europe; his team is well-organized, and his football ideas trace back to his time at Salzburg,” he noted. “Now he’s managing in the Premier League, the strongest league in the world. I experienced this firsthand with Chelsea. This should fill us with pride after the season we’ve had.”
CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 16: Coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina during a Serie A match against US Cremonese at Stadio Giovanni Zini. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Vanoli: ‘They are favourites, we must play with character’
Vanoli paid tribute to Selhurst Park, referring to it as an intimate and atmospheric venue where Crystal Palace has achieved success amid 25,000 passionately supportive fans. When asked if he views Palace as the favorites, he promptly agreed. “Yes, I think they are, especially coming off an FA Cup victory.” However, he emphasized Fiorentina’s readiness to compete. “We need to approach this match with personality and clarity. It’s a wonderful challenge, and it will serve as a measure of our growth as a team.”
He also provided positive news regarding Albert Gudmundsson, highlighting the Icelandic forward’s improved defensive discipline and his competitive response to mistakes during their last match against Verona. “These reactions, although small, are important details,” Vanoli remarked. “We are all evolving.”
With a second leg awaiting in Florence, Vanoli’s message was clear: the tie is far from over, and Fiorentina is determined to make a significant impact on the European stage.