Vanoli: ‘Fiorentina set quality aside for battling spirit’

Paolo Vanoli admits Fiorentina have learned to put quality aside and focus on ‘a battling spirit’ to crush Jagiellonia 3-0 in the Conference League play-off and reboot in Serie A.

The Viola rotated the squad for this trip to Poland in sub-zero temperatures, aware that the focus had to be on climbing the Serie A table to escape the relegation zone.

Despite those changes, they put in a strong performance and emerged with a 3-0 victory over Jagiellonia, the team currently at the top of the Polish League.

Luca Ranieri’s header broke the deadlock, followed by a sensational Rolando Mandragora free kick and Roberto Piccoli penalty.

Vanoli sees new spirit at Fiorentina

“Since I’ve been here, I said that we care about this competition. Naturally, I have to make a lot of evaluations, we know what the situation is in Serie A, and we had hoped to be able to focus more on Europe at this stage,” Vanoli told Sky Sport Italia.

“I have to say that this evening this group of players wanted to prove we are all part of something important. It was not easy to play here, we suffered and sweat for the shirt, the same way we did against Como, and this is the attitude that will keep us going forward in Serie A and the Conference League.”

Fiorentina left behind David De Gea, Moise Kean, Dodo, Albert Gudmundsson, Manor Solomon, Marco Brescianini, Daniele Rugani and Oliver Christensen.

However, it feels like they have turned a corner now, especially a few days after the Serie A win away to Como.

“Before beautiful football, you must build team spirit. I think recently we’ve actually taken a step back in terms of quality, but a significant step forward with our spirit,” explained Vanoli.

“This is an approach we must maintain, and it was not easy to turn things around at this club after that start, it took a lot of work, but I can count on everyone now and we need them all for what will be a battle to the end.”

The second leg will be at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Thursday February 26, to decide passage into the Conference League Round of 16.

“A lot of the criticism was entirely fair, but when you are an important club with big ambitions and find yourself in last place with five points, it’s a shock. Sometimes, just playing good football isn’t enough when you’re down there, you need to do battle.

“If we look at the games where we had the best performances, they were against the big clubs, whereas we dropped precious points against the sides closer to us in the table, which is where we really needed to get results.

“Next up there’s Pisa, so along with it being a local derby, it is also a relegation dogfight and a six-pointer, even a nine-pointer. We must behave like a provincial team, the way we did tonight, being ready to suffer and not be arrogant.”

Fiorentina made a lot of changes during the January transfer window, including the arrival of Giovanni Fabbian from Bologna.

“Fabbian has quality, pace, an eye for goal, but we are working to get him back into the role of mezz’ala, as in recent years he played mainly as a trequartista,” continued the coach.

“I want him in the midfield instead, and we had him a little deeper today for a 4-4-2 formation. I think he can do so much here, naturally it takes a little while to settle after changing club mid-season.”

There were also goals tonight for players who have been with Fiorentina for a while, but have been insulted by fans recently, namely Ranieri and Mandragora.

“I am truly happy for Luca, because I feel he was criticised too heavily, even if he did recognise his mistakes. He went through a tough time, but it helped him to grow and he is proving himself with this reaction.

“These are important players for Fiorentina and I’m really pleased for them,” concluded Vanoli.