The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fiorentina

  • Fiorentina, Olympiacos set for Conference League finale

    Fiorentina, Olympiacos set for Conference League finale

    Fiorentina will be hoping to avoid consecutive Europa Conference League final losses when they take on Olympiacos at the AEK Arena tonight in a match set to broadcast live on GOtv.

    Lucas Beltrán’s late equaliser against Club Brugge in the semi-final secured 1-1 draw for the Italians as they advanced to the final on 4-3 aggregate score, having won the first leg 3-2 at home. Fiorentina will hope to add a second European trophy to its cabinet on Wednesday. Tune in GO Football (ch 61) at 8pm to watch the match.

    Speaking with UEFA ahead of the final, Vincezo Italiano, Fiorentina’s manager, expressed delight at his team’s consecutive final appearance in a European competition and hopes the team makes up for last year’s disappointment.

     “I hope our efforts, our hard work, and all the detailed attention we have given to this competition will bring us the cherry on the cake,” he said.

    Read Also: Osimhen doubtful for Napoli clash with  Fiorentina

    Olympiacos, on the other hand, will relish the thrill of winning their first ever European final appearance on home soil. José Luis Mendilibar, the man who led Sevilla to Europa League success last season, oversaw a  6-2 aggregate victory over Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the semi-final to advance to the final.

     “We must keep a level head, treat it like any other game. The week leading up to the game will be as normal as possible. I never like to do anything differently just because it’s a big game,” Menilibar told UEFA ahead of the final. “Olympiacos have that hunger to win, and if the youngsters (Olympiacos’ UEFA Youth League winners) can do it, why can’t we? We were underdogs against Ferencváros, Fenerbahçe and especially Aston Villa, and we found a way.”

  • Six-year-old to meet Fiorentina idol

    Six-year-old to meet Fiorentina idol

     

     

     

     

    Fiorentina have invited a young supporter to visit the team after he drew winger Federico Chiesa for a school assignment.

    Chiesa’s surname means ‘church’ in Italian, and when little Vittorio was asked by his teacher to draw the religious building, he drew the up-and-coming Fiorentina talent instead.

     

    His father, Dario, put the image on social media and it went viral across Italy. The story came to Fiorentina’s attentions, and the Serie A side have subsequently invited Vittorio and his father to the training ground to meet the Viola squad.

    Of course, proud Papa Dario didn’t expect such a strong reaction.

    “We didn’t think all of this would happen,” Dario told Violanews. “The teacher asked Vittorio and the other class pupils to write the word ‘church’ in capital letters and then represent it with a design.

    “When my son handed over his work to the teacher he said ‘I drew a child who goes to church’.

    “When he returned home he told us to the truth that he had in fact drawn Federico Chiesa.”

    So there’s your lesson, kids: make mistakes at school to achieve your dreams. Or something like that.

  • Emeghara plays down link to Fiorentina

    Emeghara plays down link to Fiorentina

    Swiss – Nigerian attacker Innocent Emeghara has reacted to reports linking him with a shift to Fiorentina.

    The ex-Livorno and Siena man has claimed that there has not been any contact with the leadership of the Serie A side regarding a deal .

    “I know nothing, I cannot say anything. Now there are so many teams with which I am in contact.

    “Would I like Fiorentina? Sure, it’s a great team, Florence is a beautiful city, but now I cannot say anything. Rossi is a great player, I’m sorry for what happened to him,” Tuttomercatoweb citing Radio Blu quoted Emeghara as saying.

    The free agent is reportedly on the radar of two other Italian clubs – Cesena and Inter Milan – plus English teams Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

     

  • Emeghara plays down link to Fiorentina

    Emeghara plays down link to Fiorentina

    Swiss – Nigerian attacker Innocent Emeghara has reacted to reports linking him with a shift to Fiorentina.

    The ex-Livorno and Siena man has claimed that there has not been any contact with the leadership of the Serie A side regarding a deal .

    “I know nothing, I cannot say anything. Now there are so many teams with which I am in contact.

    “Would I like Fiorentina? Sure, it’s a great team, Florence is a beautiful city, but now I cannot say anything. Rossi is a great player, I’m sorry for what happened to him,” Tuttomercatoweb citing Radio Blu quoted Emeghara as saying.

    The free agent is reportedly on the radar of two other Italian clubs – Cesena and Inter Milan – plus English teams Newcastle United, Sunderland, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

  • Leeds wanted me but I couldn’t refuse Fiorentina—Kurtic

    Slovenian midfielder Jasmin Kurtic has revealed he turned down an approach from Leeds United to seal a switch to Fiorentina.

    Kurtic has swapped Sassuolo for Fiorentina, heading to link up with Vincenzo Montella’s La Viola on a season-long loan agreement.

    Should the midfielder impress with Fiorentina, the Serie A side will have the option to make his switch permanent for a set fee of around €5m.

    And Fiorentina beat off interest from English Championship side Leeds to win the race for Kurtic.

    “It’s a big step forward in my career”, he told Ekipa 24.

    “I know it will be hard for me to carve out a place in the first team, but I’m ready to work hard and put myself in the mix.

    “Leeds? I knew about their interest, but I could not refuse Fiorentina”, the 25-year-old, who has won 18 caps for Slovenia, added.

     

  • Rodriguez signs new Fiorentina deal

    Fiorentina defender Gonzalo Rodriguez is set to remain at the club until 2017 after signing a contract extension.

    The Argentine, who arrived at Stadio Artemio Franchi from Villarreal in 2012, has made 68 Serie A appearances during his two seasons at the club, contributing 10 goals.

    Rodriguez’s deal was set to run out in 2015, but he has now declared his delight at having resolved his future.

    “I am very happy and there were never problems negotiating the renewal, so it was easy to sign the new contract,” he said.

    “We need to improve, even if other teams have great players, as we want to win something this season. We’ve got important players too.

    “What are my objectives? I always say to win a trophy, whether it’s the Coppa Italia or the Europa League.

    “Of course, getting a place in the Champions League would also be wonderful.”

    Fiorentina finished fourth in the Italian top flight last season to secure a European berth.