Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘Kean suffering shin pain, Crystal Palace are favourites for the Conference League’
Fiorentina coach Vanoli: ‘Kean suffering shin pain, Crystal Palace are favourites for the Conference League’ Paolo Vanoli held his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park, and the Fiorentina head coach was candid on multiple fronts, confirming Moise Kean’s fitness setback, acknowledging Crystal Palace’s status as favourites, and expressing his pride at the scale of the occasion despite a lengthy injury list. Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News & Content – Free Trial – Click Here Kean has been nursing a long-standing shin problem, and Vanoli confirmed the striker was unable to train on Wednesday after reporting pain in the affected area. “Moise has been carrying this shin issue for a very long time,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb .
“After yesterday’s training he felt pain and today he was not able to make it. ” VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 04: Moise Kean of Fiorentina in action during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 04, 2026 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Getty Images) The news is a blow for a Fiorentina side already managing several absences ahead of what Vanoli himself described as one of the most demanding spells of the season.
On the injury situation more broadly, Vanoli pushed back against any narrative of crisis. “I would have liked to arrive here with a full squad because against opponents like this I need everyone,” he said. “But the word ’emergency’ is not in my DNA.
It must be an opportunity for those who have played less and for the younger players. If we play as a team we will achieve great results. ” Vanoli has done his homework on Crystal Palace and their manager Oliver Glasner, whom he has followed closely for some time.
“Glasner has already proven himself in Europe, his team is organised and you can see his footballing ideas trace back to his days at Salzburg,” he said. “Now he is managing in the Premier League, the strongest league in the world. I experienced it personally with Chelsea.