As the highly anticipated match between Fiorentina and Roma approaches, former midfielder David Pizarro shared his thoughts on the upcoming clash. Pizarro, who played for both clubs during his career, offered insights into the current state of the two teams and their prospects for the match.
Pizarro began by highlighting the contrasting situations of the two sides: “Fiorentina and Roma are coming into this match in completely different ways. The atmosphere in Roma is not good at the moment, despite yesterday’s win against Dynamo Kyiv. It seems to me that Juric, who arrived recently, hasn’t yet managed to find the right balance. Therefore, Fiorentina is the favorite for this match, both because of what’s happening at Roma and because of the excellent form of Palladino’s team, which after a slow start has found a strong identity.”
When asked about the credit for Fiorentina’s success, Pizarro jokingly mentioned club president Commisso: “Since he brought up Sarri in an interview a few days ago, the Viola haven’t lost a single match. Maybe that’s when the coach turned things around.”
Regarding the chaos surrounding De Rossi’s dismissal and Juric’s appointment at Roma, Pizarro was critical: “It’s an inexplicable situation. You can’t sack a coach after just a few games, especially one who had essentially built the team in his image during the summer. In a serious club, something like what happened to DDR simply doesn’t occur. That’s why I want to tell Fiorentina fans: hold on tight to Commisso!”
Pizarro praised Commisso’s involvement: “Because he’s a present figure, even from afar, who speaks up and exposes himself when things aren’t going well. In Rome, on the other hand, the Friedkins never speak: we don’t even know what their voices sound like.”
When asked about Juric’s situation, Pizarro expressed respect for the coach but acknowledged the challenges: “I like Ivan because he comes from humble beginnings. But if the team isn’t performing, it’s because this group wasn’t built by him, and it’s not easy for a coach to step in and quickly give a clear playing style. I can tell you that, having been inside the football world.”
Pizarro also commented on Roma player Zalewski, a potential target for Fiorentina: “Yes, first of all because a change of scenery would do him good mentally. Lately, he’s always been criticized every time he takes the field. Maybe a new adventure would help him: just look at how well he performs every time he goes to the national team.”
Finally, Pizarro expressed his admiration for Fiorentina’s ongoing projects: “In Florence, you’re doing wonderful things: from the magnificent sports center, which unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to visit yet, to the stadium renovation. All of this pleases me because it means that Fiorentina intends to grow as a team.”
