Fiorentina secured a 2-0 victory against The New Saints in their opening Conference League match. After a goalless first half, Adli and Kean scored within 5 minutes of each other to seal the win for the Viola. Following the game, Fiorentina’s new head coach Raffaele Palladino shared his thoughts with Sky Sport.
Palladino began by praising his team’s performance: “It was a great response from the boys. They played a good game. Facing these teams is not easy. They defend deep and close all passing lines, but we created many chances. In the first half, we couldn’t break through, but in the second, we provided more width.”
The coach expressed satisfaction with the squad depth, stating, “I can count on everyone, and this pleases me greatly. Moreover, today we once again showed defensive solidity.”
Regarding Mandragora’s injury, Palladino admitted, “I didn’t have a good feeling about it. We’ll wait for the diagnosis.”
He went on to praise individual performances: “I have a great relationship with Adli. He’s a leader, popular with his teammates. Today he demonstrated his value, though he still needs to grow physically. Everyone played well, from the first to the last. I received excellent responses, including from Biraghi and Moreno. I can count on a great group.”
Palladino emphasized the importance of multiple leaders within the team: “I need many leaders. We’re a new team, but I see a great chemistry developing.”
The coach also had high praise for Kean: “Kean is demonstrating his great technical and human value. He’s a great professional and an extraordinary guy. In the penalty area, he can be even more incisive. This is perhaps the only step he’s missing.”
