Vanoli: ‘Fiorentina not satisfied yet, Kean ready to play’ | OneFootball

Paolo Vanoli confirms Moise Kean ‘is ready to play’ for Fiorentina in the Conference League trip to Rakow. ‘I’ll only say I’m satisfied when we have definitively achieved our objective.’

The first leg saw the Viola turn it around to win 2-1 in stoppages with a last-gasp Albert Gudmundsson penalty.

The decider is at the Zaglebiowski Park Sportowy in Sosnowiec on Thursday, kicking off at 17.45 GMT (18.45 CET).

They are fresh off Monday’s 4-1 Serie A win away to Cremonese, which dragged them clear of the relegation zone.

Vanoli sees Fiorentina on right track

CREMONA, ITALY – MARCH 16: Coach Paolo Vanoli of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the Serie A match between US Cremonese and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giovanni Zini on March 16, 2026 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)

“Winning helps to boost your self-esteem, it was a very important match and we won thanks to a great performance,” said the coach in his press conference.

“Now we’ve got to remember that is in the past, and tomorrow we are playing for qualification against a side that caused us quite a few problems in the first leg.

“We need to recharge the batteries, mentally as much as physically, and I think the result in Cremona will help us to do that.”

The big question marks are over the fitness levels of Kean, who has struggled in recent weeks with a recurring ankle issue.

FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Cher Ndour of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“Moise was on the bench in Cremona, which means he was available. We’ll decide tomorrow if he plays from the start or comes off the bench, but he is ready to play,” assured Vanoli.

“I am not looking further ahead than tomorrow’s game. We care about this competition, we must respect it and will do our best to get through to the next round. As always, I’ll choose the best possible line-up.

“Even when we were in a more difficult moment in Serie A, I always said we had to take it one game at a time. We have an objective, we are against a side that defends ruggedly and can counter-attack dangerously, so we must be concentrated.

“We’ve seen that such a slender advantage counts for little at international level. What we need is to recognise that nobody dominates for 90 minutes, there are matches within matches, and if you go behind then you must have the clear head to turn it around, or to control an advantage in those situations.”

FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 12: Albert Gudmundsson ac f scores a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2025/26 round of 16 first leg match between ACF Fiorentina and Rakow Czestochowa at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 12, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Fiorentina had won 3-0 away to Jagiellonia in the Conference League play-offs, then lost by the same result at home, squeezing through in extra time.

Now they are back in Poland and this time have the advantage from the first leg at the Stadio Franchi.

“They have different playing styles in possession, but what unites them is how aggressive they are going forward,” explained Vanoli.

“Jagiellonia have more technique and quality, Rakow are more physical and love to run into space, but also defend very well. Polish football is growing and these are teams who made their mark on the international stage in recent years.”

Vanoli was drafted in by Fiorentina to replace Stefano Pioli on November 7, so how would the coach judge his work so far after nine wins, six draws and 11 defeats in all competition?

“My work only ends once the season is finished, and then we can judge together. Since I arrived, we’ve had ups and downs on this journey, and Fiorentina probably doesn’t deserve to be in this situation, but we did well to recognise where we were.

“It took a while to understand how to turn things around, but the victory against Cremonese was another step forward, even though there are still another 10 points we need to pick up to secure safety.

“I will only say I’m satisfied when we have definitively achieved our objective.”