Vanoli expresses frustration with Fiorentina: ‘the mentality was wrong again’

The situation at Fiorentina is deteriorating rapidly, and coach Paolo Vanoli did not hesitate to express his frustration following the resounding 3-0 defeat to Udinese. For Vanoli, his team’s performance was not only disappointing but a troubling repetition of what had already been seen in the recent Conference League tie against Jagiellonia. What could have been a promising path has turned into a series of setbacks that raise serious questions about the mentality of the squad.

“Udinese is a very physical team, and if we keep arriving late to the second balls, we are making it easier for them,” Vanoli lamented in statements to DAZN Italia. The game in Udine was a grim reflection of what transpired in the European competition, where Fiorentina, despite securing passage to the round of 16, displayed alarming vulnerabilities. “The mentality was all wrong again. The players need to do some deep self-reflection because it takes a long time to build something and only a moment to destroy it,” he emphasized.

Daniele Rugani’s debut for Fiorentina was marked by a disastrous performance. The defender, who was thrown straight into the starting eleven, slipped during the play that led to Udinese’s first goal, scored by Christian Kabasele. To make matters worse, Rugani committed a foul that resulted in a penalty and was easily bypassed by Adam Buksa for the third goal. “I knew Rugani would struggle to complete the 90 minutes, but he managed. He can’t find form or fitness if he doesn’t play. I am convinced he will make a strong contribution in the coming weeks,” commented Vanoli, despite his frustration with the overall performance of the team.

The coach did not hold back in criticizing his players’ attitude, stating that the team failed to exploit spaces, made slow passes, and, most concerningly, did not register a single shot on target during the match. “The statistics show that we didn’t have a single shot on goal, and we suffered defensively on set pieces, demonstrating a lack of concentration,” said Vanoli, emphasizing the urgent need for determination to avoid conceding more goals. “We are not going anywhere without determination, and clearly, in that aspect, we have not progressed. We need to increase our will to not concede goals.”

In addition, Vanoli also confirmed that Moise Kean asked to be substituted after a blow to the tibia, adding yet another concern to the already extensive list of problems for the team. This defeat marks Fiorentina’s first loss in Serie A since their 2-1 defeat to Napoli on January 31, and places the team tied on 24 points with Cremonese and Lecce. With only Pisa and Verona below them in the standings, the fight against relegation intensifies, making it clear that there is still a spot for relegation to be determined.

“The championship is tightening, and the upcoming matches will make a difference in terms of mentality,” concluded Vanoli, in a statement that highlights the urgency for a change in the team’s approach. Fiorentina urgently needs to find their way back and the determination to avoid a relegation that seemed unthinkable just a few weeks ago.