Fiorentina and Pioli will not speak after humiliating defeat

Fiorentina were jeered off the field and fans demanded the dismissal of coach Stefano Pioli, but the club has ordered a press silence.

There seems to be no end to the crisis that the Viola are going through this season, which was entirely unexpected considering the investments over the summer and return of the coach.

Yet they have just four points from an available 30 after 10 rounds, not managing a single victory in Serie A, despite winning all their Conference League fixtures.

Director Daniele Pradè tried to take some of the pressure off by resigning on Saturday morning, but things went from bad to worse with today’s 1-0 home defeat to Lecce.

Many were waiting to hear what Pioli would have to say, but the club released a statement confirming they would not be sending any representatives to speak to the media this afternoon.

The fans seem to have lost patience with the coach, who returned to the Stadio Franchi after what had been a positive first experience.

They chanted mockingly ‘the bench is bouncing’ during the final minutes of today’s 1-0 loss, and then jeered the entire squad and Pioli after the game.

Things got worse afterwards, as hundreds gathered outside the Stadio Franchi to protest and hurl insults at the club hierarchy, so it is not clear how and when the players will be able to leave.

Fiorentina have played four draws against Cagliari, Torino, Pisa and Bologna, losing to Napoli, Como, Roma, Milan, Inter and Lecce.

The problem is fairly evident, as they scored seven goals and conceded 15.

Only once have they scored more than one goal per game, in the 2-2 draw with Bologna on October 26.