Italiano: ‘Lukaku tackle was horrible’

Vincenzo Italiano sees the glass ‘three quarters full’ after Fiorentina’s 1-1 draw with nine-man Roma and explains his post-match dialogue. ‘Romelu Lukaku’s deal with was actually horrible.’

The Viola had a nightmare begin to the match on the Stadio Olimpico when Paulo Dybala’s cross discovered Romelu Lukaku for a crouching header from six yards within the opening 5 minutes.

Nevertheless, moments after Nicola Zalewski noticed crimson for a second bookable offence, Lucas Martinez-Quarta nodded within the equaliser.

Lukaku was proven a straight crimson card late on for his reckless lunge on Christian Kouame, however even right down to 9 males, Roma nonetheless resisted the Fiorentina siege with some Rui Patricio saves and the crossbar retaining out Jack Bonaventura.

“They have been solely right down to 9 for a couple of minutes. Our complete second half was extraordinary, we tried in each option to get it again on observe after taking the flawed preliminary strategy, which Roma made essentially the most of,” Italiano advised DAZN.

“Roma targeted all through solely on defending, we weren’t sharp sufficient in entrance of objective, however I congratulated my lads for his or her response on this ambiance and the dedication to get factors.

“They weren’t even urgent us. We conceded the opening objective in naïve trend shedding the ball cheaply, we all know they’re sturdy on the transitions like that.

“Fiorentina have been up in opposition to a powerful opponent, in a fiery ambiance, and I see the glass three-quarters full as we speak.”

Italiano admits he ought to’ve seen the issues coming, as this can be a common prevalence for the Viola who don’t all the time have the precise preliminary strategy.

“I anticipated Roma to have that sturdy begin, sadly we didn’t maintain out beneath that 15-minute spell the place they all the time come out combating. It was a world class objective.

“We did properly within the preventative marking after that, allowed them only a few possibilities and took the sport in hand.”

Nico Gonzalez was not match sufficient to begin after additionally lacking the midweek Coppa Italia tie with Parma, however got here off the bench.

“Nico was coaching individually from the squad for eight days. You understand how necessary he’s for us, as we speak he was centimetres away from getting the objective together with his header. It’s a pity, however he can hopefully be again to full health from the following match.”

The largest drawback for Italiano’s group has all the time been their failure to show possession and possibilities into precise objectives, particularly with their strikers, as once more as we speak defender Martinez-Quarta was on course.

“I see a Fiorentina facet that’s bettering, even when at instances our begins usually are not all the time the perfect. We proceed to place in good performances, particularly in opposition to the large golf equipment. The issue is that we have now quite a lot of possession and alternatives, however usually are not scientific sufficient within the closing third.

“I’m satisfied the expansion course of will proceed, as this can be a younger group, as an illustration Michael Kayode who’s technically a Primavera participant.”

This was a head-to-head with Roma for fourth place, however the stalemate leaves them in joint sixth with Napoli.

“Our goal within the league is to enhance on the seventh and eighth place that we had in my first two seasons. We are able to try this with these performances, this character and this dedication. We wish to stay in all of the competitions and people are our targets.”

After the ultimate whistle, Italiano instantly went to speak with Leandro Paredes, so what did they are saying?

“Lukaku’s deal with was actually horrible. We didn’t perceive one another when it occurred, so we clarified, shook fingers and it was all resolved.”