Fiorentina faced a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Apoel Nicosia in their third match of the Conference League. After the game, manager Raffaele Palladino shared his insights with Sky Sport, reflecting on the team’s performance and the challenges they encountered.
Palladino began by discussing the preparation for the match, stating, “I believe we prepared for the game in the right way. These are teams that confront you with a low block, and such matches are often decided by key moments. When you go behind, it becomes complicated to turn things around.” His comments highlight the difficulty of breaking down a well-organized opponent, especially when falling behind early in the match.
The manager then addressed the team’s defensive issues, noting that it wasn’t solely a problem with their backline. He remarked, “It’s not just a problem with our defense. Our goalkeeper didn’t have to make any saves. It’s more of an issue with our transitions.” This observation points to a broader concern regarding how the team moves from defense to attack and vice versa, indicating that improvement is needed in their overall play.
Concluding his remarks, Palladino acknowledged that there was room for technical improvement: “We certainly could have done better on a technical level. Now we’ll analyze the game and turn our attention back to the league.” This statement emphasizes his commitment to learning from the defeat and focusing on their upcoming domestic matches.