Fiorentina vs Crystal Palace – Vanoli: ‘Conference League was never the priority but we can dream’
Fiorentina vs Crystal Palace – Vanoli: ‘Conference League was never the priority but we can dream’ Paolo Vanoli has called on his Fiorentina players to cast aside inhibition and play with complete freedom when Crystal Palace visit the Stadio Franchi on Thursday evening, with the Viola requiring a 3-0 victory to overturn their first-leg deficit and reach the Conference League semi-finals. Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News & Content – Free Trial – Click Here It is a tall order by any measure, and Vanoli was not about to pretend otherwise. But the Fiorentina coach, who has overseen one of Serie A’s more remarkable survival stories this season, knows better than most that the impossible can sometimes be achieved when a group of players stops thinking and starts believing.
“We will play with a free head, knowing that we will need something special,” he said, with quotes via AldredoPedulla. com . “Sometimes what matters is not so much technical quality but desire, doing something that goes beyond what is expected, with courage and freedom.
We have to risk, try and dream. ” Vanoli was equally honest about the context of this European run. With four points from their opening 11 league matches this season, survival was the only objective that mattered.
“When we had four points we were talking primarily about the league, that was the priority,” he said. “Then the story says the Conference must be an objective for this club. ” He also pointed to the broader lesson his side can take from facing a Premier League opponent of Palace’s quality.
“The strong teams make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn. ” FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 13: Head coach Paolo Vanoli manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Artemio Franchi on April 13, 2026 in Florence, Italy.