Two of Milan’s players fronted up after the humiliating home defeat to Udinese, with Samuele Ricci and Adrien Rabiot delivering honest and at times emotional post-match assessments, the latter taking particular exception to the jeers directed at Rafael Leão from the San Siro faithful.

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Ricci was forthright in his comments, refusing to hide behind excuses while acknowledging the difficulty of Milan’s current moment.

“It was a bad defeat, a night to forget,” he said, via MilanNews.it.

“We did not play terribly, but conceding three goals at home on a night when we could have sent a signal was not good enough. The only thing to do now is stick together.”

He also acknowledged a wider issue beyond tactics or formation.

“If we approach games like this, it means something is wrong that goes beyond the system. We are angry, we are bitter, for ourselves and for the supporters.”

Milan 0-3 Udinese – Ricci & Rabiot: ‘Fans’ boos were justified’

On the supporters’ reaction, Ricci was unequivocal.

“Given the performance, I think the boos were justified. Milan fans always deserve to win and it is right that they whistled us.”

Rabiot, speaking to Sky Sport, was equally candid about the collective drop in standards, including his own.

“We have all made mistakes, myself first,” he said, again via MilanNews.it.

“I also lost clarity on certain things. I lost the lucidity to look around and tell others to stay more concentrated.” He attributed the wider slump to a combination of physical and mental fatigue, pointing to a loss of defensive solidity as the root cause. “When we defend well we find goals and we win. Today we were disorganised.”

His sharpest words, however, were reserved for those in the crowd who directed criticism at Leão.

“What disappointed me were the whistles at Leão,” Rabiot said. “In my opinion we need to help him, support him, and this does not help him. We are all in this together until the end. It was a bit ugly to see.”

Massimiliano Allegri delivered one of his most candid and sobering post-match assessments of the season after Milan were soundly beaten 3-0 at home by Udinese, admitting that their Champions League qualification is now genuinely under threat and that the supporters were entirely justified in voicing their frustration.

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The Milan head coach was in no mood to deflect responsibility or find excuses, addressing each difficult question with characteristic directness. On a formation change that some had pointed to as a factor, he was emphatic.

“The change of system has absolutely nothing to do with it,” he told DAZN, with quotes via MilanNews.

“This is a difficult moment for the team. We have lost three of our last four and failed to score in four games during the second half of the season. If you are in the top four, going four games without scoring is simply not good enough.”

Allegri was equally frank about the defensive fragility that allowed Udinese to score three times, particularly on the second goal. “We were defending in a disorganised way because we were too hasty,” he said.

“On the second goal we were three against one. We need to return to being organised and clear-headed, because we still have every possibility of making the Champions League.”

When pushed on whether the Champions League place was genuinely at risk, Allegri did not flinch.

“Football is beautiful but also cruel,” he said. “We must not be swept away by events. We need to restore order in how we manage matches.”

On the supporters’ reaction at full time, the Milan coach was disarmingly honest.

“It is part of football,” he said. “When you win you are good, when you lose you are not. It was right that they booed us today.”

Milan 0-3 Udinese – Allegri: ‘Champions League place at risk’

He was also willing to acknowledge what he believed lay behind the team’s dip in form, the psychological impact of losing the title race.

“You are absolutely right,” he said, when asked whether the squad had subconsciously relaxed after the Scudetto dream faded.

“When you are at the top, in the final stages of the season, and you lose that objective, there is a moment of relaxation. But this defeat tells us clearly that our Champions League place is at risk.”

On speculation about Leão’s long-term future at the club, Allegri was measured, noting the Portuguese winger had created two significant chances in the first half.

“It is not a question of Rafa or anyone else individually, it is about performing differently, with more patience in the defensive phase.”

Kosta Runjaic was delighted but measured after Udinese produced one of the results of the Serie A season, beating Milan 3-0 at San Siro in a performance that underlined just how far his side have come under his management.

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The coach was careful not to get carried away, however, insisting the win, as emphatic as it looked, was far from the straightforward exercise the scoreline suggested.

“It was a solid match but not a perfect one,” he told DAZN, with quotes via MilanNews.

“Milan had their chances and we had to fight. In certain moments you have to perform at your best and we did that. We were compact, there was a great effort from everyone. Perhaps Milan didn’t expect this kind of energy from us. But it was a competitive match even if it doesn’t look that way, one goal can change everything. We were good because we went looking for fortune and positive situations.”

Milan 0-3 Udinese – Runjaic: ‘A win is a win, I would have been as happy with a 1-0’

Asked about the historic nature of the result, Allegri had never previously conceded three goals in a single Serie A defeat at Milan, the Udinese coach was understated.

“I would have been happy with a 1-0 too,” he said. “A win is a win. The team is growing, the players are growing. We play without pressure.”

He did express concern over Keinan Davis’ injury, though he stopped short of speculating on the severity.

Runjaic also singled out Nicolo Zaniolo for specific praise, highlighting a disciplined tactical display that went well beyond his attacking contribution.

“He worked incredibly hard defensively too, a lot of recovery runs,” the coach said. “He was ready to play even more but I chose to bring him off and protect ourselves a little.”

His closing message was simple and telling. “We keep our feet on the ground and go looking for at least two more points, that way we will have a better season than last year.”

Rafael Leao had an evening to forget after a dismal team display saw Milan beaten 3-0 at home by Udinese.

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The Portuguese forward was played as a striker once again, and really struggled as the Rossoneri offered little in the way of genuine attacking threat.

Leao himself had eight shots, four of which were blocked and the other four off target. This wastefulness epitomised a rough night for Milan as Udinese claim their second win at San Siro this season.

Milan 0-3 Udinese – San Siro boos for Leao after poor display

Leao was also shown a yellow card for sarcastically applauding the referee after a decision went against him, before being taken off with 15 minutes left to play.

As he was substituted, replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the San Siro crowd jeered the Portuguese forward, capping off a poor night at the office for the Milan man.

Head coach Massimiliano Allegri gave the winger a big hug and clap as he came off, in an attempt to cheer him up, but the overwhelming drone of boos from the home crowd will stick in his mind.

It continues a run of four games without a goal or assist for Leao, with his last goal coming against Cremonese at the start of March.

In fact, the former Lille forward has just two goals in his last ten games for the Rossoneri

Claudio Ranieri’s pre-match comments ahead of Thursday’s win over Pisa have opened a fascinating window into the behind-the-scenes process that led to Gian Piero Gasperini’s appointment as Roma head coach, and the identity of the three who said no before he arrived.

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The first name is beyond doubt: Cesc Fabregas, according to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Roma pursued the Como coach at length through then-sporting director Florent Ghisolfi, now at Sunderland, who went as far as formally requesting that Como release their coach. The Lombard club’s reluctance to let Fabregas go ultimately proved decisive, and the trail went cold.

The other two who declined were both foreign coaches rather than Italian-based.

Ranieri confirmed in his own remarks that the names on the shortlist were predominantly non-Italian, which rules out figures such as Stefano Pioli, who was working in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr at the time, and Francesco Farioli, who Roma did meet but ultimately rejected rather than being turned down by.

“He is young and doing well, he can wait,” was Ranieri’s public verdict on Farioli at the time.

Roma asked for Valverde & Emery before Gasperini move

The remaining two names were Spanish.

Ernesto Valverde was one, with Ranieri famously handing the Athletic Club manager his business card in Bilbao after Roma’s Europa League defeat, a moment he laughed off publicly by claiming he had simply lost Valverde’s number and wanted advice on Spanish players.

The other was Unai Emery, a long-standing favourite at Trigoria who has always been held in high regard by those at the club. Aston Villa, however, offered him considerably stronger prospects than Roma could at that stage, and he stayed put.

As for the remaining names on Ranieri’s list of five or six, the two he described as “very Italian” and of considerable stature both sentimentally and on their CVs, their identities remain unconfirmed.

Cesc Fabregas struck a candid and grounded tone ahead of Sunday’s home clash with Inter, acknowledging past naivety in matches against the Nerazzurri while insisting Como will take to the field with the full intention of winning, even as he urged perspective about where his club stand in the broader picture.

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Como have faced Inter twice already this season, losing 4-0 in the league and drawing 0-0 in the Coppa Italia semi-final first leg, and Fabregas was honest enough to admit his side have not yet found the formula to hurt them.

“In specific moments we should have made the difference, we didn’t score and we didn’t win,” he said, with quotes via Sky Sport.

“We were a bit naive in some situations in the 4-0, Carlos Augusto and Thuram scored on the counter. We hope to have a better day tomorrow.”

The remedy, according to Fabregas, is straightforward in principle if not in practice.

“Tomorrow we must score, play with courage,” he said. “We know who Inter are and we know we can lose, they have players who make the difference. Mathematically, the more quality players you have, the more you win. But we will face them with the conviction to win.”

Como coach Fabregas: ‘We’re not even halfway through our journey yet’

He was equally clear about what that requires tactically, managing key moments, finishing moves effectively and covering the spaces where Inter can hurt them.

Despite the ambition, Fabregas was insistent that Sunday’s result, whatever it may be, does not define Como’s season.

The broader journey is what matters, and he was not about to lose sight of that.

“Last season we finished on 49 points with a big gap to the top six,” he said.

“With seven games left we have six more points than that and we are in the Coppa Italia semi-final. But we cannot forget that we are at the beginning of a journey, not even halfway through it. Let people talk.”

He ended with a message that encapsulated the balance he is trying to strike, belief without delusion, ambition without arrogance.

“The path is ours. We cannot forget that and start acting like we are something we are not just because we are playing Inter.”

Gian Piero Gasperini addressed the Claudio Ranieri controversy head-on at his post-match press conference, firmly dismissing any suggestion of friction between the two men while insisting Roma are entirely focused on securing a Champions League place in the final six games of the season.

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Ranieri had spoken earlier in the day about having proposed five or six managerial names before Gasperini was appointed, with three ultimately declining, and that when it comes to suggestions, Ranieri follows the orders of the owners, not the coach.

Asked for his reaction, Gasperini was measured but clear.

“I have never had a disagreement with Ranieri, quite the opposite,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“I gave two names for players I wanted, one arrived. I said we needed to work on the attacking department because we had lost several forwards, beyond that everything was fine. There was never any opposition between us. I have always focused on working.”

When pushed further on whether he felt out of step with the club’s direction, Gasperini’s response was characteristically blunt.

“Don’t joke with me. I am on a single track. I have six games to play, starting with a very strong opponent next. We are well positioned and at worst will be a point ahead of them.”

Roma 3-0 Pisa – Gasperini: ‘Malen is extraordinary’

He drew a direct parallel with his time at Atalanta, recalling the sensation of overtaking Roma in the table during those years as proof that he understands exactly the challenge ahead.

On Malen, whose hat-trick lit up the Olimpico, Gasperini was effusive, while also refreshingly honest about the fortuitous nature of the signing.

“Malen is extraordinary,” he said. “The key question was whether he could play as a centre-forward, and I got that right. He has the burst of pace, the ball control… we played against him in pre-season and when you see certain players you immediately know when someone is good.”

He added with a smile that he had no idea Malen was available to leave Aston Villa until two days before the deal was done, describing it as good fortune rather than any particular scouting genius on his part.

Donyell Malen has described his pride at being compared to Roma legend Gabriel Batistuta after completing his first Serie A hat-trick against Pisa, a milestone that has also triggered one of the two conditions required to make his move from Aston Villa permanent.

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The Dutch striker has been nothing short of a revelation since joining Roma on loan in January, scoring 10 goals in just 12 Serie A appearances at a remarkable rate of one every 97 minutes.

Few loan arrivals in recent memory have had such an immediate and transformative impact on a club.

“I am happy to have helped the team get going, from there everything was under control,” Malen told reporters after the match, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“The most important thing was the three points. I am very proud of the comparison with Batistuta. My objective is to keep scoring more and more.”

Malen permanent stay at Roma ‘all but done’ as conditions half-met

The financial implications of his form are becoming increasingly straightforward.

Roma’s loan agreement with Aston Villa includes a conditional obligation to buy, with two specific triggers.

The first, requiring Malen to reach 50% of possible appearances, has now been met.

The second condition is tied to Roma finishing in a Champions League position at the end of the season, which currently remains unfulfilled.

However, the club appear entirely unconcerned about the technicalities.

According to reports, Roma have already set aside the €25 million required to purchase Malen outright, on top of the €2 million loan fee already paid, and consider the deal as good as done regardless of how the second condition resolves itself.

For a player who left Villa Park frustrated by a lack of minutes and the inability to play in his preferred centre-forward role, Rome has proven the perfect destination at the perfect moment.

Matias Soulé was in determined mood after Roma’s comfortable victory over Pisa, insisting the squad are fully focused on securing a Champions League place with six Serie A games remaining, and that Friday evening’s win was exactly the response needed following the defeat at San Siro.

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The Argentine trequartista was the architect of the third goal, threading a through ball to release Donyell Malen for his hat-trick finish, and was keen to highlight the collective work behind moments like that.

“It is a very important victory after the loss at San Siro,” Soulé told Sky Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“We had to bounce back and we did it by playing our football. We train every day to improve our understanding and I believe this is the right path, though we still have a lot to improve.”

Roma 3-0 Pisa – Soule: ‘Every game left is a final’

With Roma firmly in the race for a top-four finish, Soulé made no attempt to downplay the significance of what remains.

The gap between the Champions League places and those chasing is fine enough to make every remaining fixture feel decisive.

“There are six games left and each one is a final for us,” he said.

“We want to go to the Champions League. It has not been an easy period, but after San Siro we have won an important match.”

It was a concise but pointed message from a player growing in confidence, as his side keep the pressure up on top four rivals Juventus and Como.

Donyell Malen was the star of the show as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma produced a commanding home performance against Pisa at the Olimpico, the Dutch forward completing a hat-trick in a display that rarely suggested anything other than a comfortable afternoon’s work for the hosts.

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The Dutch forward set the tone inside three minutes, collecting the ball on the edge of the area, driving forward with purpose and finishing clinically beneath the crossbar to give Roma an early foothold.

Pisa, to their credit, did not retreat immediately and caused occasional problems on the counter, but Roma’s control of the match was evident throughout a first half that the hosts largely dictated.

The second goal came in the 43rd minute and it was a quality team move, Devyne Rensch threading a pass for Malen to meet on the run; the finish composed and assured.

Lorenzo Pellegrini had rattled the crossbar from a free kick moments earlier, but it mattered little with the half-time lead already firmly established.

Roma 3-0 Pisa – Malen completes hat-trick in comfortable Giallorossi win

Gasperini made an early change after the break, introducing El Shaarawy for Pellegrini, and the tempo barely dropped as Roma pressed for a third.

It arrived in the 52nd minute when Matias Soulé produced a moment of genuine quality, a through ball, that split the Pisa defence and allowed Malen to stroke home his third goal of the evening with minimal fuss.

Soulé himself was replaced shortly after by Neil El Aynaoui as Gasperini managed his squad sensibly with the game long since won. Rensch also made way for Angelino in the closing stages, while Pisa brought on fresh legs in search of a consolation that never materialised.

A clean sheet, three goals and a performance of growing confidence as Roma keep up the pressure on Juventus and Como in the race for the top four.

10-04-2026 19:45

MatchDay 32

Stadio Olimpico

Roma

Pisa

3 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Donyell Malen		3'
		21'		Idrissa Touré
Donyell Malen (Assist: Devyne Rensch)		43'

2nd half

Zeki Celik		50'
Donyell Malen (Assist: Matìas Soulé)		52'

Match statistic

59

Possession %

41

8

Total shots

9

3

Shots on target

5

3

Shots off target

3

2

Blocked shots

1

1

Corners

3

Offsides

3

11

Fouls

12

Roma

Pisa

Starting lineups

99

Mile Svilar

Goalkeeper

87

Daniele Ghilardi

Defender

2

Devyne Rensch

Defender

85'

5

Evan Ndicka

Defender

22

Mario Hermoso

Defender

19

Zeki Celik

Defender

78'

4

Bryan Cristante

Midfielder

7

Lorenzo Pellegrini

Midfielder

46'

61

Niccolò Pisilli

Midfielder

14

Donyell Malen

Attacker

78'

18

Matìas Soulé

Attacker

65'

1

Adrian Šemper

Goalkeeper

4

Antonio Caracciolo

Defender

33

Arturo Calabresi

Defender

85'

3

Samuele Angori

Defender

5

Simone Canestrelli

Defender

15

Idrissa Touré

Midfielder

54'

8

Malthe Höjholt

Midfielder

54'

10

Matteo Tramoni

Midfielder

74'

20

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

7

Mehdi Léris

Attacker

32

Stefano Moreo

Attacker

74'

Substitutes

95

Pierluigi Gollini

Goalkeeper

12

Konstantinos Tsimikas

Defender

24

Jan Ziolkowski

Defender

97

Bryan Zaragoza

Attacker

70

Giorgio De Marzi

Goalkeeper

76

Jacopo Mirra

Defender

74

Mohamed Seck

Defender

92

Stephan El Shaarawy

Attacker

46'

8

Neil El Aynaoui

Midfielder

65'

3

Angeliño

Defender

78'

78

Robinio Vaz

Attacker

78'

20

Lorenzo Venturino

Attacker

85'

22

Simone Scuffet

Goalkeeper

11

Juan Cuadrado

Midfielder

12

Nicolas

Goalkeeper

39

Raúl Albiol

Defender

23

Calvin Stengs

Attacker

21

Isak Vural

Midfielder

9

Henrik Meister

Attacker

2

Rosen Bozhinov

Defender

81

Filip Stojilkovic

Attacker

36

Gabriele Piccinini

Attacker

54'

14

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro

Midfielder

54'

17

Rafiu Durosinmi

Attacker

74'

35

Felipe Loyola

Defender

74'

26

Francesco Coppola

Defender

85'

Ciro Immobile rolled back the years with a stunning early goal as Paris FC produced one of Ligue 1’s more surprising results of the season, hammering Monaco 4-1 to climb to  the table.

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The veteran Italian striker, who joined the French capital club on a free transfer from Bologna in January, wasted no time making his mark.

With Paris FC already ahead through Jonathan Ikoné’s fourth-minute opener, Immobile doubled the lead on eight minutes, breaking free in the centre of the box and firing a perfect first-time right-foot drive into the roof of the net.

The former Lazio man then turned provider, assisting Ikoné’s second goal on 21 minutes to give Paris FC an unassailable 3-0 lead before half-time.

Former Serie A stars Ikone, Immobile & Koleosho shine for Paris FC

Ikoné, who spent three seasons at Fiorentina between 2022 and 2025, was outstanding throughout and capped a superb individual display with a brace of his own.

Monaco, who came into the match sitting fifth in Ligue 1, managed a brief response through Folarin Balogun just before the break, but any hopes of a comeback were swiftly extinguished in the second half.

Italy Under-21 international Luca Koleosho, a player firmly in the plans of whoever takes over the senior Azzurri coaching role, added a fourth to complete a comprehensive victory and cap a thoroughly miserable evening for Monaco.

The result leaves Monaco stranded on 49 points, while Paris FC’s momentum under Antoine Kombouaré continues to build.

Claudio Ranieri has spoken candidly about his role at Roma, the appointment of Gian Piero Gasperini as head coach, and his own future at the club, making clear he has no intention of overstaying his welcome in any capacity.

The Roma senior advisor spoke to DAZN ahead of the club’s Serie A clash with Pisa, drawing a clear distinction between his current advisory role and the hands-on nature of his previous spell as head coach.

“My balance sheet I will draw up at the end,” he said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.

“Now my work is very different from that of a coach. I give my opinion when consulted by the ownership, not the coach, and I only marginally involve myself in matters on the pitch.”

Ranieri: ‘We chose Gasperini for Roma because…’

On the appointment of Gasperini, Ranieri offered a rare and revealing insight into the process.

He had proposed a shortlist of five or six names, three of whom ultimately declined, before the club settled on the Atalanta man.

“I spoke with him because I knew him,” Ranieri said. “We chose him for what he had done at Atalanta, starting with young players and gradually bringing them onto the biggest stages. We expected what is happening now. We brought in young players, all chosen together, not one arrived without his approval. Ziolkowski, Ghilardi, Venturino and Zaragoza all came on his specific request, to give the coach a squad capable of building on a campaign that had finished one point from the Champions League.”

Perhaps most striking were Ranieri’s words about his own position.

The veteran, who returned to Roma as a caretaker coach before transitioning into his current senior advisory role, made clear he has no ego investment in remaining at the club.

“If I am consulted again, I will continue,” he said. “Otherwise I can also leave. I love Roma and I am ready to step aside as senior advisor, just as I had already done before as coach.”

It is a characteristically selfless statement from a man who has always placed the club’s interests above his own, and a reminder that Ranieri’s involvement at Roma, however long it lasts, will always be defined by quiet devotion rather than personal ambition.

Follow all the action from today’s game, as it happens, on our Live Blog.

Diego Milito has extended a warm public invitation to Lautaro Martinez to one day return to Racing Club, the Argentine club where both men began their careers, though the Inter captain’s former teammate was equally clear that there is no rush, with Lautaro still very much in his prime at San Siro.

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Speaking on DAZN’s Giorgia’s Secret, with quotes via FCInter1908, the former Inter striker, whose goals in the 2010 treble-winning season remain the stuff of Nerazzurri legend, reflected at length on a career defined by big moments and decorated by the finest company.

On Lautaro specifically, Milito’s admiration was both personal and professional.

“I have known him for a long time,” Milito said. “He made his first-team debut coming on in my place, imagine that. You could already see he was an extraordinary champion. He had everything clear in his mind, he knew what he wanted. He was remarkable.”

The connection between the two goes beyond football, with Milito emphasising the human quality that he believes underpins Lautaro’s success.

“I have had the chance to know him as a person too, and that is important, he is extraordinary. Every time he comes to Argentina he goes back to see the young players at Racing and has a chat with them. These are important things, they speak to his humility.”

Milito: ‘The door at Racing is always open to Lautaro’

On the prospect of a future homecoming, Milito was affectionate but realistic.

“I would love to bring him home one day, he knows that,” he said. “But the game is very dynamic. He is happy at Inter and still has many years ahead of him there. When the time comes, he knows the door at Racing is always open.”

Milito also touched on a number of other topics during the wide-ranging interview. He spoke warmly of Cristian Chivu’s development as a head coach, having sensed his coaching potential during their playing days together at Inter.

“He is doing very well, you could see it back then, just as you could with Thiago Motta and Stankovic,” he said.

“The Cuchu has everything it takes, even if he has not yet had the chance to fully demonstrate it.”

On Thiago Motta’s difficult spell at Juventus, Milito was loyal but honest.

“Sometimes it is difficult to explain certain things,” he said. “He certainly made some errors, he is young and will continue to learn. But I have no doubts he is a great coach.”

He also expressed regret over the way Mauro Icardi’s time at Inter ended.

“He did very well at Inter and could have done more, especially given the way he left. It is a shame he did not have the chance to continue a great career in nerazzurro.”

Roma host Pisa at the Stadio Olimpico this evening, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Giallorossi side look to hang on to their dreams of Champions League football next season, whilst the visitors scramble for any points that can help them to avoid relegation.

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Roma come into the game having disappointed in the last couple of months, putting early-season Scudetto shouts to rest fairly quickly, crashing out of various competitions and now leaving their chances of a top four finish on the ropes.

The Giallorossi now sit three points behind 5th placed Juventus and four points behind 4th placed Como, both of whom they will need to eclipse if they wish to book a place in Europe’s top competition.

Pisa, meanwhile, sit rock bottom of Serie A – with just two wins to their name this season. Twelve draws have prevented their points total from getting too embarrassing but time is running out for the side to avoid the drop.

Roma vs Pisa – Official XIs

Roma: Svilar; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Celik, Cristante, Pisilli, Rensch; Soule, Pellegrini; Malen

Pisa: Semper; Calabresi, Caracciolo, Canestrelli; Touré, Leris, Aebischer, Hojholt, Angori; Tramoni, Moreo

10-04-2026 19:45

MatchDay 32

Stadio Olimpico

Roma

Pisa

3 - 0

Player statistic

1st half

Donyell Malen		3'
		21'		Idrissa Touré
Donyell Malen (Assist: Devyne Rensch)		43'

2nd half

Zeki Celik		50'
Donyell Malen (Assist: Matìas Soulé)		52'

Match statistic

59

Possession %

41

8

Total shots

9

3

Shots on target

5

3

Shots off target

3

2

Blocked shots

1

1

Corners

3

Offsides

3

11

Fouls

12

Roma

Pisa

Starting lineups

99

Mile Svilar

Goalkeeper

87

Daniele Ghilardi

Defender

2

Devyne Rensch

Defender

85'

5

Evan Ndicka

Defender

22

Mario Hermoso

Defender

19

Zeki Celik

Defender

78'

4

Bryan Cristante

Midfielder

7

Lorenzo Pellegrini

Midfielder

46'

61

Niccolò Pisilli

Midfielder

14

Donyell Malen

Attacker

78'

18

Matìas Soulé

Attacker

65'

1

Adrian Šemper

Goalkeeper

4

Antonio Caracciolo

Defender

33

Arturo Calabresi

Defender

85'

3

Samuele Angori

Defender

5

Simone Canestrelli

Defender

15

Idrissa Touré

Midfielder

54'

8

Malthe Höjholt

Midfielder

54'

10

Matteo Tramoni

Midfielder

74'

20

Michel Aebischer

Midfielder

7

Mehdi Léris

Attacker

32

Stefano Moreo

Attacker

74'

Substitutes

95

Pierluigi Gollini

Goalkeeper

12

Konstantinos Tsimikas

Defender

24

Jan Ziolkowski

Defender

97

Bryan Zaragoza

Attacker

70

Giorgio De Marzi

Goalkeeper

76

Jacopo Mirra

Defender

74

Mohamed Seck

Defender

92

Stephan El Shaarawy

Attacker

46'

8

Neil El Aynaoui

Midfielder

65'

3

Angeliño

Defender

78'

78

Robinio Vaz

Attacker

78'

20

Lorenzo Venturino

Attacker

85'

22

Simone Scuffet

Goalkeeper

11

Juan Cuadrado

Midfielder

12

Nicolas

Goalkeeper

39

Raúl Albiol

Defender

23

Calvin Stengs

Attacker

21

Isak Vural

Midfielder

9

Henrik Meister

Attacker

2

Rosen Bozhinov

Defender

81

Filip Stojilkovic

Attacker

36

Gabriele Piccinini

Attacker

54'

14

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro

Midfielder

54'

17

Rafiu Durosinmi

Attacker

74'

35

Felipe Loyola

Defender

74'

26

Francesco Coppola

Defender

85'

David De Gea delivered a characteristically honest and grounded assessment after Fiorentina suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park, leaving the Viola with a seemingly impossible task in the Conference League quarter-final second leg at the Stadio Franchi next week.

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It was a damaging evening for Paolo Vanoli’s side, who gifted Crystal Palace a strong platform in the opening half hour before finding their feet, only to concede a third goal deep into stoppage time that De Gea acknowledged was entirely avoidable.

“The third goal hurts,” the veteran goalkeeper told Sky Sport Italia.

“To concede at the last minute on a cross, it was too easy for them. But this is football, you have to be concentrated for 95 minutes.”

The Spanish stopper was not without hope for the second leg, even if he acknowledged the scale of the challenge.

“It looks difficult but not impossible,” he said.

“We have got to do something amazing, win 3-0, and we have it all to do at the Franchi.”

He did, however, believe the scoreline flattered Palace considerably, pointing to a strong second-half showing and several missed chances as evidence that the tie could have looked very different.

“I think if we had converted one of our chances, everything would have changed. We didn’t, and instead we conceded a third.”

De Gea: ‘Three months ago we were in serious trouble’

Characteristically, De Gea was keen to frame the result within the context of a season that has been far from straightforward for Fiorentina.

“We must not forget that three months ago we were in serious trouble,” he said.

“The team is doing better in Serie A, it might not seem like it, but getting out of the situation we were in is something impressive. We have achieved nothing yet and still have work to do there.”

Asked about the gap between Serie A and the Premier League, with Fiorentina losing 3-0 and Bologna falling 3-1 to Aston Villa on the same evening, De Gea was candid but measured.

“The Premier League is ahead of Serie A, but they also have a lot more money, better infrastructure and they do things very well,” he said. “But other than those first 20-30 minutes, where we had the wrong approach and conceded two goals, I think we played well and deserved to score tonight.”

Unai Emery was measured and respectful in his post-match assessment after Aston Villa secured a commanding 3-1 victory at the Renato Dall’Ara, candidly admitting his side were second best for long periods of the first half while defending the state of Italian football against what he considered an unfair narrative.

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The Villa manager made no attempt to overstate his side’s dominance, acknowledging that the scoreline at half-time somewhat flattered the visitors.

“Bologna did better in the first half, we were too timid, sat too deep and tried a lot of long balls to find Watkins without getting the game where we wanted,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“At the same time, we allowed Bologna very few shots on target. The result was good at half-time even if we felt we didn’t particularly deserve to be in that position.”

The second half, however, was a different story.

“It went much better after the restart, we were looser, more fluid and managed to score two more goals,” Emery said.

Emery: ‘No crisis in Italy, the clubs are very good’

He was quick to caution against complacency ahead of next week’s second leg at Villa Park, however.

“We must not rest on our laurels. We have seen Bologna overturn big results before and can take nothing for granted. They are very good on their travels and we have the utmost respect.”

Asked about the wider crisis engulfing Italian football following the World Cup elimination, Emery pushed back firmly.

“I don’t agree there are problems,” he said.

“In recent years Inter played two Champions League finals, Atalanta won it, Fiorentina and Roma played Conference League finals and won one. It is true Italy did not qualify for the World Cup, but their clubs are very good, Napoli, Roma, Inter, Milan, Atalanta, Juventus, Bologna. I have the utmost respect for Italian football. I also learned a great deal from Italian coaches like Gasperini and his 3-5-2, the same system that allowed Inter to have such success.”

Emery also addressed the subject of Donyell Malen, the Roma forward who left Villa Park in January and has since impressed in Serie A.

“It was a good agreement for him and for us,” Emery explained.

“He wanted to play as a centre-forward but we had Watkins, so there wasn’t much playing time available. I wanted to keep him, but he had this opportunity at Roma. I am pleased he is doing well, I think he can have a great career there.”

Bologna were left to rue a series of costly defensive errors after suffering a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, with both Lewis Ferguson and Federico Bernardeschi delivering frank and self-critical assessments of a result that leaves the Italians facing a mountain to climb at Villa Park next week.

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The manner of the defeat was particularly frustrating given how well Bologna performed in the opening 45 minutes.

Ferguson, who had a chance himself to open the scoring, felt the scoreline was a harsh reflection of a first half his side largely controlled, only to be undone by the kind of individual errors that Aston Villa, at this level, are ruthless enough to punish.

“We knew this would be a real challenge, Villa are a very strong side, but I thought we dominated the first half,” Ferguson told Sky Sport Italia.

“We conceded on a corner, we knew they were good in these situations, and I’m sad that we conceded a goal like that when we were doing so well. In the second half we paid for another avoidable error that made life difficult for ourselves.”

He remained defiant about the second leg, however. “We’ve got nothing left to lose at Villa Park.”

Ferguson also acknowledged the fine margins that separate the two sides at this level.

“There are details that decide games at this level, we saw the difference today in the details, and perhaps that is the big difference between us and Aston Villa.”

Bologna 1-3 Aston Villa – Bernardeschi: ‘You cannot afford to make these mistakes in Europe’

Bernardeschi was equally candid, and his words carried the weight of a senior player demanding higher standards from himself and his teammates.

“The truth is you cannot afford to make these mistakes in Europe,” he said.

“I believe Bologna are not in any way inferior to Aston Villa, but the details make the difference, you cannot make any mistakes, and we were punished by three errors.”

He was particularly pointed about the third goal, which he felt was entirely avoidable.

“This game has to be a teachable moment. We need to mature, grow, and believe that if we want to take the step up in quality, we cannot do things like this.”

A first-half performance full of promise, three defensive lapses, and a 3-1 deficit — Bologna’s European education continues, and the lessons have never been more costly.

Crystal Palace took a controversial penalty in their stead on Thursday evening to take the lead against Fiorentina in their UEFA Conference League quarter-final.

Jean-Philippe Mateta converted from the spot after Dodo fouled Evan Guessand in the box.

However, Dodo’s foul on the Palace forward came after the player had already taken a poor shot at goal. Whilst the Brazilian’s follow through was not great, it had no effect on play.

Whether it should or should not have been given is up for debate but one thing is for certain, the yellow card shown to the Fiorentina man in the aftermath, likely for dissent, will see him miss the second leg in Florence.

You can follow all the action from the rest of the match, as it happens, on our Liveblog.

Jean-Philippe Mateta slots the penalty past David De Gea to put Palace 1-0 up

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Crystal Palace double their lead over Fiorentina

Shortly after, the Premier League side doubled their lead through Tyrick Mitchell after the full-back pounced on a rebound after the hosts forced a good save out of David De Gea.

Fiorentina have a mountain to climb, now, or at the very least must enforce damage limitation so as to not leave themselves with too much of a hurdle in to clear in the second leg.

Crystal Palace have a two goal lead after just 30 minutes

Tyrick Mitchell forces it home at Selhurst Park

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Crystal Palace head coach Oliver Glasner spoke to the microphones of TNT Sport before kick-off against Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals.

The Austrian coach discussed his team’s progress in training, as well as providing updates on returning stars Jean-Phillipe Mateta, Daniel Munoz and Dean Henderson.

“They trained fully, Dean was ill before the international break and JP [Mateta] and Daniel were managing their minutes. Of course they are starters but we still have to manage Mateta’s knee and so it’s good Strand Larsen comes back for the Newcastle game.

“It’s always good to have many options because as we saw at Larnaca, we needed Strand Larsen and Mateta up front to help us score goals so it’s good to have many options.

Follow all the action, as it happens, on our Liveblog: Bologna vs. Aston Villa, Crystal Palace vs. Fiorentina

Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Glasner: ‘We are refreshed and ready’

Asked about how he was feeling, and how the squad have been doing in training, Glasner said

“Yes we’re feeling refreshed. We made the best of it. Many players played for their national team and we had an in-house game so everyone can stay in rhythm with a good week in training.

“Yes I feel relaxed, the players give me a good feeling. We had a great week in training but on the other hand, we know the most important part is after the kick off, how we perform. But the preparation is very good.”

Glasner’s Crystal Palace come into the game with extra rest compared to Fiorentina, who played at the weekend. The English club have not played since before the international break, with many English clubs given an extra week of rest due to the FA Cup weekend.

Weston McKennie has delivered a glowing tribute to Luciano Spalletti in a wide-ranging interview for DAZN’s Remember the Name format, describing the Juventus head coach as the best manager of his career while also reflecting on the extraordinary experience of sharing a dressing room with Cristiano Ronaldo.

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The American midfielder has been one of Juventus’ most consistent performers this season and recently signed a contract renewal, a far cry from the period not long ago when he appeared to have no future at the club. Much of that transformation, McKennie suggests, is down to the environment Spalletti has created around him.

“I get on very well with him,” McKennie said, with quotes via AlfredoPedulla. “I think every player has different needs and there are different expectations on each of us. Every time I see the manager he gives me a sense of security.”

He was particularly struck by Spalletti’s ability to deliver criticism constructively, an approach he contrasted with other managers he has worked under.

“When he tells you off he never does it in a harsh way, he always does it to make you improve. Some coaches humiliate you, but Spalletti’s personality makes you think that you need to get better. He commands your attention every time he speaks, he has experience, he is wise.”

Juventus, McKennie: ‘Spalletti is the best coach I’ve had’

McKennie also highlighted the collective philosophy that underpins everything Spalletti does. “He focuses heavily on team success,” he said.

“He always says that you can dribble past four opponents, score and be happy, but if you provide a beautiful assist, two people are happy. That is why I say he is the best coach I have had in my career. The numbers say it and the way he manages the group makes him an outstanding coach.”

On Ronaldo, McKennie was equally vivid, recalling the sheer reality of the Portuguese superstar’s legendary dedication. “It was incredible to play with him,” he said. “When I met him I thought that everything you hear about his professionalism is completely true.”

He went on to describe scenes that have become almost mythological in football, returning from away matches at three in the morning to find Ronaldo heading for an ice bath rather than home, and seeing him back in the gym the morning after a gruelling fixture. “It was something I needed to see with my own eyes to believe,” McKennie said.

Juventus have identified Ederson as a primary midfield target for this summer, with Luciano Spalletti personally requesting the Atalanta and Brazil international as the player he believes can fundamentally change the character of his squad, even if the path to signing him is far from straightforward.

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According to Tuttosport, via CalcioMercato, the Brazilian has already decided to leave Bergamo at the end of the season.

With his contract running until 2027 and Atalanta determined to cash in rather than risk losing him for a reduced fee next summer, the Brazilian’s entourage have been active in exploring options for some time.

They have already reached a preliminary agreement with Atletico Madrid, who have tabled a bid in the region of €35 million, though Atalanta are holding firm at €40 million and are prepared to let a bidding war develop if necessary.

That is where Juventus see their opportunity.

Juventus aim to sabotage Atletico move for Ederson

Despite Atletico’s head start, the Bianconeri believe their own appeal, particularly under Spalletti, who has a strong track record of maximising the potential of dynamic box-to-box midfielders, could prove persuasive.

The pursuit of Sandro Tonali has been abandoned due to the prohibitive cost and fierce English competition, making Ederson the most realistic route to the high-quality midfield addition Spalletti has been promised.

Ederson has been at Atalanta since 2022 and has made 173 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals, while also collecting a Europa League winner’s medal in 2024. This season he has featured 34 times, contributing two goals, numbers that underline his consistency if not his attacking output.

The broader picture at Juventus this summer involves significant investment across the squad, with the Vlahovic renewal situation still unresolved and at least one further striker required. But in midfield, Spalletti has made his wishes clear, and Ederson is the name at the top of his list.

Juan Sebastian Veron knows a thing or two about thunderous long-range strikes, and the Argentine midfield legend watched Hakan Calhanoglu’s stunning effort against Roma with the appreciative eye of someone who spent a career doing exactly the same thing.

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Calhanoglu‘s powerful drive to seal Inter’s victory over Roma was a goal of genuine quality, precise, powerful and deliberate in its execution. Whether goalkeeper Mile Svilar could have done better is debatable, but the Turkish international gave him precious little chance, picking his spot and striking with conviction from well outside the penalty area.

For Veron, it was a moment of rare craft in a modern game that has largely abandoned the art of shooting from distance.

“Calhanoglu did today what was fairly common in my time,” Veron explained, via La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Back then, midfielders, especially box-to-box players, would always have a go when they reached 25 metres. Now the preference is to carry the ball inside. I loved shooting from distance, and I wasn’t bad at it either.”

What impressed Veron most was not simply the power of the strike but the intelligence behind it.

“He had no opponent pressing him, so he had time to take aim and shoot,” he said.

“He was clever enough to generate power without losing his coordination, which is an error you often see. What I particularly liked was that he aimed for a specific part of the goal and found it. So often you see wild shots that somehow end up in the net. This was different. Well done.”

Veron: ‘Calhanoglu is an excellent regista, dictates Inter tempo’

On why players attempt so few long-range efforts in the modern game, Veron was blunt.

“Because it requires courage, the courage to miss, to ignore the criticism,” he said. “And it requires considerable technique. The ball must be struck in a specific way, the leg must follow through freely but always under control.”

He proceeded to break the skill down methodically: strike with the instep or outer instep rather than the inside of the foot, decide before striking whether to keep it low or lift it, and crucially, read the goalkeeper’s position rather than shooting blind. “Only through repetition in training do you make progress,” he added.

On Calhanoglu’s broader value to Inter, Veron was equally admiring.

“He has this quality in his locker, but not only this one. He is an excellent deep-lying playmaker, he dictates the tempo, knows when to slow things down or speed them up, and has a superb long pass that opens defences and finds teammates in space. For Inter he is an enormous asset.”

Asked to recall his own finest long-range effort, Veron needed no time to think.

“January 1997, I was at Sampdoria. A corner from Mihajlovic and I volleyed it just inside the area, straight under the crossbar.”

He also remembered a stunning volley at San Siro against Inter for Parma in the Coppa Italia, set up by Asprilla and finished across goal with power and precision.

“Inter protested that there had been a foul and three of their players were sent off,” he recalled with a smile. “I had never seen that before, I score and three opponents get dismissed. And that season we won the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup.”

Gianluigi Donnarumma has broken his silence on one of the darkest weeks in Italian football history, addressing the bonus controversy that emerged in the aftermath of the World Cup playoff defeat to Bosnia while paying tribute to the three figures who have since stepped down from their roles.

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The Manchester City goalkeeper, who served as Italy captain during the playoff campaign, spoke to Sky Sport, via TMW, in a reflective and emotional interview that covered everything from the personal pain of a third consecutive World Cup absence to the damaging reports that surfaced about bonus demands from within the squad.

For Donnarumma, those reports cut particularly deep. “What hurt me most was what came out,” he said. “As captain I never went to ask the Italian national team for a single euro. What happens at the national team, as always in every competition, is that a gift is given to players if they reach a target. That was all it was, and nobody asked the federation for anything. Our gift was going to the World Cup. Unfortunately that did not happen.”

It was a firm and unambiguous denial from a player who clearly felt the integrity of the group was being called into question at an already painful moment.

“I was hurt more by the comments and the words that came out than anything else,” he added.

Italy goalkeeper Donnarumma: ‘We feel sorry for Gigi, Gattuso & Gravina’

The departures of Gabriele Gravina, Gennaro Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon have added another layer of emotion to an already bruising period. Donnarumma was generous in his words for all three, and visibly affected by the chain of resignations that followed the Zenica defeat.

“I had a wonderful relationship with Gigi, with Gattuso, with Gravina,” he said. “We feel sorry above all for them, it is natural that you feel somewhat responsible for everything that is happening now, and it hurts. But I want to thank the manager, the president and Gigi, because they gave an important contribution.”

Despite the pain, the goalkeeper was determined to frame the situation within a broader context.

Italy’s record-breaking winning streak and the European Championship triumph of 2021 remain genuine achievements, and Donnarumma was insistent that the country’s footballing identity is not beyond repair. “In these years, beyond the disappointments, we have achieved important things,” he said. “Not everything should be thrown away.”

His message for the future was simple but heartfelt. “It is hard, but we must move forward with strength and with the awareness that Italy will return strong, will return great.”

With the Nations League and European Championship still to come before any future World Cup campaign, the rebuilding process begins sooner than many might think.

“The first two days were very hard and tiring,” Donnarumma admitted. “It hurts, it really hurts. The first days I struggled to process it. But the truth is that you have to restart, move forward, react.”

Jonathan Rowe has opened up on a difficult start to life at Bologna and the hard work that has gone into transforming his fortunes, ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg against Aston Villa at the Renato Dall’Ara.

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The English winger was candid with UEFA about the challenges of adapting to a new country and a different style of football after joining from Marseille, admitting he may have initially underestimated how significant that transition would be.

“I found myself in a situation where I had to adapt to a different kind of football,” Rowe said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“I analysed my statistics and, together with my staff, compared them to what I was doing before and what the best players in my position do. I took that information and applied it to my game. I also became more aware of my positioning on the pitch, and I think that has allowed me to reach this level of performance.”

Rowe: ‘Bologna fans are starting to see the real me; Italiano helps us feel free in the final third’

The forward believes that growth is now becoming visible to Bologna’s supporters.

“I think the Rossoblù fans are starting to really see what I am capable of,” he said, a confident but measured assessment from a player who has worked methodically to earn his place in Vincenzo Italiano’s plans.

On the manager himself, Rowe was enthusiastic. The language barrier presented an early challenge, but as communication improved so did his understanding of what Italiano demands.

“The most important thing is that with him, we forwards feel free in the final third,” he said. “We must maintain quality, create goals, assists and chances, and be a constant threat.”

Rowe also identified what he believes Italiano values most in him specifically.

“I think what the manager appreciates most about me is my hunger, both offensively and defensively, my desire to always give everything on the pitch. These are characteristics that have always been part of my game, so it is easier for me to build on them.”

Rafael Leao’s name has resurfaced at Barcelona once again, with Spanish newspaper Sport reporting fresh interest from the Catalan club, though any potential move remains far from a concrete negotiation at this stage.

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According to the report, via MilanNews, the pursuit of Leão is being driven from the very top of the club, with president Joan Laporta personally behind the recurring interest in the Portuguese winger.

It explains why Leão’s name has been linked with Barcelona virtually every summer for the past several years, it is a presidential fixation rather than a sporting director’s initiative.

However, the key factor determining whether Barcelona pursue the Milan star in any meaningful way this summer is entirely separate from the Portuguese winger himself.

Barcelona interest in Milan man Leao depends on Rashford pursuit

The club’s priority is to establish whether they can make Marcus Rashford’s loan from Manchester United permanent. Barcelona are understood to have a personal agreement with the England forward, but United are holding firm at a fee of €30 million, and until that situation is resolved, no other wide forward targets can be properly explored.

Barcelona’s financial constraints add another layer of complexity. The club cannot overspend and must carefully manage how they distribute their transfer budget, making any move for a player of Leão’s calibre contingent on significant sales elsewhere first.

Crucially, Milan are not looking to sell. There is no negotiation between the clubs, no formal approach from Barcelona’s sporting director Deco, and no indication from Leão’s camp that he is pushing for a move. For now, the interest remains exactly what it has always been, a name on a presidential wishlist rather than a transfer in motion.

Benjamin Pavard’s loan spell at Marseille is set to end without a permanent transfer, with RMC Sport reporting that the French club have decided against triggering their purchase option for the World Cup winner.

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The Frenchman returned to his home country last summer on loan from Inter with considerable fanfare, expected to bring experience, leadership and defensive reliability to a Marseille side with genuine ambitions.

Instead, his campaign has fallen well short of expectations on multiple fronts.

According to reports from France, via FCInter1908, Pavard has failed to meet the standards demanded of him in terms of both performance and attitude, becoming, in the eyes of many supporters, a symbol of the club’s broader frustrations this season.

Marseille rule out permanent move for Inter owned Pavard

The situation has deteriorated to the point where Marseille have apparently ruled out a permanent move even at a reduced fee, despite having the option to negotiate a lower buyout figure with Inter.

The final decision may ultimately rest with incoming leadership at the club, but the current direction of travel leaves little room for doubt.

Pavard will therefore return to Inter at the end of the season, where his future will need to be resolved.

With the Nerazzurri already planning a significant summer overhaul, including changes in defence following the expected departures of several out-of-contract players, where Pavard fits into Cristian Chivu’s plans, if at all, remains an open question.

Another loan move looks the most likely outcome, though finding a club willing to take on a player whose stock has fallen considerably during his time in Ligue 1 may prove more difficult than anticipated.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and defender Matty Cash faced the media on Wednesday evening ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final first leg at the Renato Dall’Ara, with both manager and player showing considerable respect for a Bologna side they have faced before, and know better than to underestimate.

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Emery arrived in Bologna with his squad boosted by the returns of John McGinn and Youri Tielemans from injury, providing additional options for a tie the Spaniard described as one of the most difficult Villa could face at this stage of the competition.

The extended break following the international window has been used productively, though Emery acknowledged the challenge of resetting players mentally after time away with their national teams.

Jadon Sancho remains sidelined and will not feature, with the manager hopeful of his return within a fortnight.

Bologna vs Aston Villa – Emery: ‘Bologna aggressive, great respect for them’

On Bologna themselves, the Aston Villa coach’s admiration was genuine and detailed.

“They beat Roma and Vincenzo Italiano has played three finals in the last three years,” he said, via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“He is very good in knockout matches, he reached two European finals with Fiorentina and won the Coppa Italia. I have great respect for Bologna and I know very well what the difficulties will be.”

He also credited the continuity of the club’s footballing identity, noting that quality football has been a constant at the Dall’Ara from the Thiago Motta era through to the present day.

On the tactical challenge of facing Bologna’s aggressive man-marking system, Emery was pragmatic.

“In Italy many teams play this way, Atalanta were among the first,” he said. “It will be very important for us to adapt to their aggression while maintaining our own style. The qualification chances are 50-50. We must be resilient when they press us and patient when we don’t have the ball.”

Cash, speaking separately, offered a more concise but equally respectful assessment. The Polish international noted his personal connection to the opposition, having spoken with his compatriot Skorupski despite the goalkeeper’s injury absence.

“They are an excellent team, after we beat them they did not lose again,” Cash said, via TMW. “So it will not be easy.”

His message for the tie itself was straightforward. “There are 180 minutes and anything can happen. Our objective is to win and put ourselves in an advantageous position for the second leg.”

Paolo Vanoli held his pre-match press conference ahead of Thursday’s Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg at Selhurst Park, and the Fiorentina head coach was candid on multiple fronts, confirming Moise Kean’s fitness setback, acknowledging Crystal Palace’s status as favourites, and expressing his pride at the scale of the occasion despite a lengthy injury list.

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Kean has been nursing a long-standing shin problem, and Vanoli confirmed the striker was unable to train on Wednesday after reporting pain in the affected area.

“Moise has been carrying this shin issue for a very long time,” he said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb.

“After yesterday’s training he felt pain and today he was not able to make it.”

The news is a blow for a Fiorentina side already managing several absences ahead of what Vanoli himself described as one of the most demanding spells of the season.

On the injury situation more broadly, Vanoli pushed back against any narrative of crisis.

“I would have liked to arrive here with a full squad because against opponents like this I need everyone,” he said. “But the word ’emergency’ is not in my DNA. It must be an opportunity for those who have played less and for the younger players. If we play as a team we will achieve great results.”

Vanoli has done his homework on Crystal Palace and their manager Oliver Glasner, whom he has followed closely for some time. “Glasner has already proven himself in Europe, his team is organised and you can see his footballing ideas trace back to his days at Salzburg,” he said.

“Now he is managing in the Premier League, the strongest league in the world. I experienced it personally with Chelsea. This must be a source of pride for us after the whole season we have had.”

Crystal Palace vs Fiorentina – Vanoli: ‘They are favourites, we must play with character’

He was equally respectful of the venue itself, describing Selhurst Park as an intimate, atmospheric ground where Palace have built their successes, with 25,000 supporters packed tightly around the pitch.

Asked directly whether he considers Palace favourites, Vanoli did not hesitate.

“Yes, I think so, they are coming off an FA Cup victory.” But he was equally clear that Fiorentina belong on the same stage. “We must play with personality and lucidity. It is a beautiful test and we will measure our growth as a team.”

He also offered an encouraging update on Albert Gudmundsson, noting the Icelandic forward’s growing defensive discipline and competitive reaction to his own mistakes at Verona.

“These reactions are small but important details,” Vanoli said. “We are all growing.”

With the second leg to follow in Florence, Vanoli’s message was clear, the tie is far from over before it has even begun, and Fiorentina intend to make their mark on the European stage.

Weston McKennie has reflected on a remarkable personal journey that has taken him from being cast aside at Juventus to becoming one of Luciano Spalletti’s most trusted and indispensable midfielders, and with a home World Cup on the horizon with the United States, life could hardly look more different from the darkest moments of his career.

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The American, who recently signed a contract renewal at Juventus after establishing himself as a key figure under Spalletti, spoke candidly to Goal about self-doubt, humility and the importance of staying grounded despite achieving things he once considered impossible.

His honesty about the fragility of his early career is striking for a player now operating at the very highest level.

“When I was in the USA youth teams I never would have thought something like this could happen to me,” McKennie said, with quotes via CalcioMercato.

“As a child you get discouraged easily, and every time I was left out of the squad I thought there was no way I could ever make it. I would go back to Dallas, to my family and to FC Dallas, and there they relaunched me, believing in me day after day. That pushed me to improve more and more, to push beyond what I thought was possible. I am grateful for the journey I have taken to get here, I never would have imagined reaching this level.”

McKennie: ‘I’m a human being like everyone else’

That journey has not only shaped him as a footballer but as a public figure, one acutely conscious of the responsibility that comes with being a role model for young American players trying to follow a similar path.

“It is an extraordinary feeling but also a responsibility,” he said. “Back then social media was not so common and my role models were people I saw on TV or in magazines. Today there is much more responsibility.”

What McKennie is most eager for people to take from his story, however, is something more personal than the goals and assists. “I am a good footballer, but above all I am a human being like everyone else,” he said.

“I try to always be faithful to my values and my roots. I wish people saw me as humble, you need to remain humble and follow your dream, finding your own path.”

Away from football, McKennie painted a picture of a man who values simplicity above all else. Barbecues with family, a drink with friends, time with his dogs, the kind of ordinary pleasures that keep him anchored to who he was before the fame.

“I like to enjoy life to the fullest,” he said. “The last six to eight months have been pretty positive, in family life, with friends, and with my dogs.”

Danilo has opened up on one of the most emotional moments of his career, the day his closest friend and long-time teammate Alex Sandro left Juventus, in a heartfelt documentary produced by Flamengo TV ahead of the new Copa Libertadores campaign.

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The Brazilian defender spent several years alongside Alex Sandro at the Turin club, having previously shared dressing rooms at Santos and Porto.

Their bond, forged across three different countries and multiple trophy wins, runs far deeper than football, and Danilo’s words made that abundantly clear.

Danilo reflects on Alex Sandro bond & Juventus exit

“When Alex left Juventus it made me cry on the pitch, because we had fought so many battles together,” Danilo said, with quotes via the Corriere dello Sport.

“When he left I didn’t think it would be that difficult. It was then that I truly felt his absence. Understanding how much we have supported each other during our careers and in difficult moments is something that makes me very satisfied, because it has extended to our personal lives and our families.”

Alex Sandro, speaking in the same documentary, was equally emotional in his tribute to a friendship he describes as lifelong. “We talk every day and share feelings that few people can imagine,” he said.

“For me he has always been a mirror, someone I have always admired enormously. Our story as brothers, friends and teammates will last a lifetime, it won’t end here at Flamengo.”

The two are now reunited once more at the Rio club, with Danilo having returned to Flamengo, the club where he grew up, after his time in Europe. He admitted that winning the Libertadores last season and scoring in the final against Palmeiras would have been the perfect moment to retire at 34, adding that only the unfulfilled dream of a World Cup with Brazil kept him going.

On that front, Danilo had warm words for Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose path has crossed his own in unexpected ways. “When I was at Porto and moved to Real Madrid, it was practically Ancelotti who bought me, and then when I arrived, he had already been sacked,” he said with a smile. “The game is like that. But we found each other again more than ten years later in the national team. It is an enormous privilege to work with him.”

Antonio Conte’s candid declaration of interest in the Italy job following Sunday’s Napoli-Milan match has set in motion a fascinating chain of events that could reshape the managerial landscape across Serie A this summer.

Conte was clear on Sunday evening that he would need to speak with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis before any decision could be made, given that he still has a year remaining on his contract at the club.

The acknowledgement that he has put himself forward for the national team role makes it difficult to envision him continuing at Napoli beyond this season, though in football, stranger things have happened.

What has emerged in the wake of Conte’s comments is that Napoli had already been quietly exploring their options.

De Zerbi & Italiano among Napoli targets as Conte open to Italy

According to Alfredo Pedulla, the club held conversations with Roberto De Zerbi about a potential move to the Maradona, only for Tottenham to move faster and secure the Brighton manager for themselves.

It is a significant revelation that suggests De Laurentiis had already begun contingency planning well before Conte made his position public.

Vincenzo Italiano remains a name high on Napoli’s list, a long-standing target of De Laurentiis, while Gian Piero Gasperini, despite recent signs of tension at Roma, is tied to the capital club for another two years, making any move complicated.

At Roma, the suggestion that Gasperini could be vulnerable raises wider questions about the club’s direction.

As Pedulla’s report pointedly notes, Roma cannot continue to treat the manager as the primary problem when the issues clearly run deeper, particularly around transfer market strategy and internal alignment, concerns that have been present since at least December.

Massimiliano Allegri, meanwhile, continues to be mentioned as a potential Italy candidate despite recent denials, a situation that could become clearer once Milan’s season reaches its conclusion.