Following Fiorentina’s 3-1 victory over Verona, coach Raffaele Palladino addressed the media at the Artemio Franchi stadium, expressing his satisfaction with the team’s performance. He stated, “It depends only on us if we can stay in this part of the standings. This is a competitive group that wants to continue to surprise and grow.” Palladino emphasized his focus on individual player development rather than the league table, saying, “I don’t look at the standings; I care about the growth of each player.”
The coach dedicated the win to Ikoné, who recently experienced a personal loss, remarking, “We dedicate this victory to Ikoné for the mourning he has had.” When discussing Moise Kean’s current form, Palladino revealed his long-standing interest in the player: “I wanted Moise already at Monza; I’ve been targeting him for a while. He has everything to be a top-level striker.” He acknowledged that Kean’s success is also due to the team’s support, adding, “He has been working hard since he arrived, but it’s also thanks to the team that he is achieving these results.”
Palladino highlighted the importance of maturity in matches against smaller teams, stating, “Yes, maturity counts in certain games. We need to understand when to play vertically or maintain possession.” He noted some first-half difficulties but felt confident in his team’s second-half performance: “In my opinion, there was no match in the second half.”
Addressing the renewed enthusiasm among Fiorentina fans, Palladino remarked, “In Florence, the fans always sing… When I walk through the streets of the city, I feel the joy of the Viola people.” However, he cautioned against complacency: “We must not delude ourselves; we need to keep our feet on the ground because difficult moments may come.”
On Comuzzo’s national team call-up, Palladino said, “It was strange that he hadn’t been considered by Italy yet… Now comes the hard part for him; he will certainly face difficulties, but it’s all part of growth.”
When asked about watching the upcoming Inter-Napoli match, Palladino humorously replied, “I’m tired; I’m going home… Maybe I’ll watch the game, but I’m not interested in the result. If there’s a draw, that’s better.”
Palladino also praised Riccardo Sottil’s recent improvement: “I could say many things about him… I had a man-to-man talk with him about a month ago and since then he has turned a corner. He has changed his training and playing style; he has grown a lot.”
Finally, he provided updates on injured players: “Gudmundsson had a serious injury… He will start running again next week; we hope to have him back soon. Cataldi had an issue with his heel today but we didn’t want to take any risks with him.”
