Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano says the team must honour Joe Barone when they face Milan on Saturday evening. Barone tragically lost his life after a short illness, shortly before the intranational break. Addressing the press ahead of the visit of Milan, Italiano spoke of the difficult period the team have experienced following the death of their inspirational director:
“These have been unique and difficult days, but knowing Joe and our director as we did, we understand that we must immediately move forward and honor him in the best possible way. He had a passion for the city, the colors, and the club. We must try to move beyond; we have lost a great guide and a father.”
Commenting on the crucial Europa League battle against Milan, Italiano stated: “Milan is coming off a good period and is in great form. This break has given us the opportunity to recover some players to get minutes and increase their fitness. We know it’s a tough game, and we want to restart with a positive result considering everything that has happened. Three points are important, but so is the performance. We know our value, and we know that at home, we must capitalize on the home advantage. These three points can give us an extra boost in the standings.”
Finally, on this stage of the season: “The team is in good shape; we’re coming from a period where we’ve achieved very good results with excellent performances. The team is growing and can do well in this final stretch. Tomorrow, we know we’ll be playing in a special atmosphere: I only ask that we work together and start thinking about something extraordinary. I expect great determination, especially in difficult moments.”
