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LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 09: Paolo Vanoli, Head Coach of ACF Fiorentina, looks on during the warm up prior to the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Leg One match between Crystal Palace FC and ACF Fiorentina at Selhurst Park on April 09, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
Paolo Vanoli says Fiorentina are doing ‘everything we can’ to recover Moise Kean for a Conference League game against Crystal Palace, where the Tuscans will need ‘courage’ and ‘heads free’ to try to overturn a three-goal deficit.
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Fiorentina host Crytal Palace at the Stadio Franchi on Thursday night in the second leg of the Conference League quarter-finals.
The Tuscans suffered a 3-0 loss in the reverse fixture played in England last week, but hope to see Italy international Kean return to action tomorrow: “We are trying to recover him; we are doing everything we can, including double training sessions with the player,” Fiorentina coach Vanoli told Sky Sport.
“He is keen to try to help us in this final part of the season. It’s a problem that has somewhat interrupted what he did last year, but thanks to the group, we have been able to make up for the absence of an important player.”
Kean has missed the last two games for Fiorentina, including the reverse fixture at Selhurst Park last week.
Fiorentina spent most of the season in the Serie A drop zone, but bounced back in recent months and are now eight points above the bottom three.
On Monday, they secured a crucial 1-0 win over Maurizio Sarri’s Lazio.
“It was the most important league win of the season, for the group and for how we approached it, especially given all the absences we had,” Vanoli said.
“There were three important points, knowing they bring us closer to something extraordinary, numbers in hand. Now, however, we need to keep our feet on the ground and go to Lecce, thinking we still have to earn the points we need.”
Vanoli is under contract with Fiorentina until the end of the season and his future at the Stadio Franchi is far from certain.
“I’ve been in football for many years, I know how it works, and I move on,” he said.
“I have to look at what we are doing and what the numbers are saying.”
Surely, however, Vanoli would love to remain at the Franchi beyond the summer.
“Absolutely, when I do something, I want to keep going with it,” he insisted.
“The club has always given me trust, and I know the esteem they have for me. I have to look at the present and finish what we started, which may seem little, but is actually a lot.”
During his pre-match press conference, Vanoli shifted his focus on the upcoming European game against Palace, highlighting the approach he expects from his players: “With head free and knowing that we’ll need a feat. Sometimes, for these things, you don’t need technique, but the desire to do something that goes beyond, with courage and with our heads free,” he said viaTMW.
“We’ll have to take risks to try to dream. I’m sorry I don’t have the full squad available. Substitutions are helpful, but against Lazio, we proved we are a proper team.
“We know Crystal Palace are one of the favourites to win the Conference League,” continued the Fiorentina coach.
“They got to this game after a comeback against Newcastle, who have a complete team.
“I showed the lads the opening 30 minutes before the penalty kick. It’s not true that we didn’t play well. I think we paid a high price for incidents in which we lacked attention. This must serve as a lesson on how to become a top side. We were unlucky in the draw, but it’s nice because strong opponents make you grow. When you don’t win, you learn.”
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ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.
