Gonzo reports on Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano as the mind games begin ahead of our Euro final next week
Vincenzo Italiano certainly knows the art of schmoozing or perhaps he’s being genuinely pleasant and sincere. The Fiorentina manager was gushing in his praise of West Ham manager David Moyes as he addressed the Italian media yesterday.
Moyes and Italiano’s sides will face off in Prague on Wednesday when West Ham face the Italian side in the Europa Conference League final.
West Ham spent most of the season in a relegation fight in the Premier League before avoiding relegation with a strong finish. However one would be forgiven for thinking the mighty Hammers had won the World Cup, Wimbledon and the Monaco Grand Prix after hearing Italiano’s appraisal.
The mind games begin ahead of Euro final began with the Fiorentina manager heaping huge praise on Hammers gaffer David Moyes
“I must say that one of the strongest teams in the competition arrives in the final”, Italiano said when speaking about the Irons.
“They have an excellent expert coach who, in England, is one of the most recognised and, in quotation marks, ‘the best’. They went to a training camp to prepare for this game well, so we know their strengths.” High praise indeed and probably very wise praise from the former Fiorentina player.
Playing the underdog card
Clearly the wily operator knows the value of not poking the hornets nest and riling an opponent. If he’d done his homework, he’d have learnt that the West Ham squad have been enjoying some much deserved ‘down time’ at a waterpark in Portugal.
Italiano’s side can finish as high as 8th in Serie A this season, depending on their final league match. They reached the Italian cup final last week, but lost in the final to Inter Milan.
The Fiorentina boss added: “Their strength and skill is evidenced by the fact that they have reached a final. They have strong players, have legs and have a great structure which in set-pieces will surely be a danger for us.
“Therefore, in the final we need maximum attention, and we face one of the strongest. We must know that we need to play a game of truly exceptional focus because otherwise it becomes complicated.”