Galloppa: ‘Try to take weight off Fiorentina’s minds’ after Pioli fired

Fiorentina caretaker manager Daniele Galloppa is eager to inspire the players against Mainz in the Conference League. ‘I tried to take some of the weight off their minds.’

It kicks off at the Mainz Arena on Thursday at 17.45 GMT.

Although the Viola have won all their Conference League matches so far this season, they are still without a single Serie A victory.

With the team in dead last place on just four points from 10 rounds, coach Stefano Pioli was sacked, and while the club tries to choose a replacement, Primavera youth team boss Galloppa has been given the caretaker role.

“The club informed me yesterday after the Primavera training session,” explained the 40-year-old former player in his press conference.

“We know what this moment is like, they asked me to bring some enthusiasm and calm to the team, because it is sorely needed right now. I tried to take some of the weight off their minds, and we hope to have a great performance tomorrow.

“I was talking to David De Gea and Pablo Mari, I do still miss that feeling of being on the pitch, the smell of the grass. I want to invite them all to enjoy these moments and not focus on the pressure, because this is the best way to express themselves in a match situation.

“I would love for them to experience these feelings at 100km/h.”

When it comes to tactical considerations, Pioli tried more or less everything during his few months at the helm, so Galloppa is not going to push the boat out too much.

“I realise that I can’t create a tiki-taka style in one day. We have to be practical, so focus on things these players already know and try to pass on my mentality.

“Fiorentina must play like a big team, with attractive football to watch, and then defend like a minnow when necessary. I want to see a side that is hungry, I want to fall in love with the team I am working with. I too was a player not too long ago, and it irritated me when the opposition held the ball.”

Galloppa hung up his boots in 2018, having been a midfielder at Roma, Siena, Parma, Modena and Cremonese.

“I was in the Roma youth academy, so I worked with Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti, then Marco Giampaolo early on, but I said when I started coaching that I didn’t want to copy anyone.

“I’ve been here for six years, I heard a lot said about Vincenzo Italiano, Raffaele Palladino and then Pioli. I think you can only do certain things if you keep the ball, so that’s what I am after.”

Although there is no firm decision yet, it is widely expected that Galloppa will remain on the Fiorentina bench until after this weekend’s game against Genoa.

“I just want to get the best out of these lads and make the most of this opportunity, then for the future we will see. I want to make the lads know they can trust me.

“It’s natural the mood in the locker room was not good, and when I first arrived, the door was locked because the lads were talking amongst themselves. When things go badly, it all seems bleak, we need to help each other.

“The fact the players were having that confrontation between themselves shows they are taking on the responsibility of this moment.”

He hinted there will be some squad rotation, including 19-year-old goalkeeper Tommaso Martinelli taking over from De Gea.

“The most important thing is that the attitude is right, because if it’s not, then it means we’ve understood nothing,” concluded Galloppa.

“Even if there are negative incidents, we’ve got to keep our heads in the game. I don’t want events to change our mood.”