Vanoli: ‘Fiorentina step backwards, but learning valuable lesson’

Paolo Vanoli admits Fiorentina ‘took a step back’ in their progress with today’s 2-1 home defeat to Cagliari, but hopes it can ‘be a valuable lesson’ in the fight to avoid relegation.

The Viola had been unbeaten in four and coming off a big victory over Bologna, so were feeling confident going into the Stadio Franchi.

However, they were repeatedly punished on the counter-attack by Semih Kilicsoy and Marco Palestra, with the Marco Brescianini tap-in too late to make a difference.

“We ought to be angry,” confessed the coach on DAZN Italia.

“We still have to work out how to face this type of match. We cannot concede two goals like that and throw the game away. We were too slow and scared when making choices. I am disappointed, it was an important fixture, it can be a valuable lesson, if we learn it.”

Fiorentina had controlled much of the game and put in over 40 crosses, but they were slow and predictable, whereas Cagliari looked dangerous on every counter-attack.

“Since I arrived, I’ve told the lads they need to not kid themselves when there are some positive results, because we are still in a very bad situation. In terms of mentality, this can be a lesson, because it’s the head-to-head clashes with the teams in the bottom half where we lost points.

“In that sense, there’s still a long way for us to go. The main thing is to avoid conceding this type of goal.”

It was an emotional evening at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, as it was the first home game since the passing of President Rocco Commisso, so there was a tribute to him before kick-off.

“We wanted at all costs to confirm the good work we’d done in Bologna and dedicate it to the President, but we didn’t manage it. We took a step back,” confirmed Vanoli.

“These are lessons we must learn. Now we have to focus on the Coppa Italia and then on Serie A.”

Moise Kean was not even on the bench due to an ankle injury, but new signings Jack Harrison and Giovanni Fabbian made their Fiorentina debuts.

“Moise played several times with painkilling injections, so we had to treat it properly, but he’s on the way back soon. I made a tactical choice at half-time with Fabbian for Mandragora, as I needed someone who could attack more, something we didn’t do in the first half.”