Palladino: ‘Fiorentina must improve, Celje coach lacks respect’ | OneFootball

Raffaele Palladino warns Fiorentina ‘need to improve’ in the Conference League semi-final against Real Betis, but gets into an ugly row with Celje coach Albert Riera. ‘There has to be respect.’

It was eventually a happy birthday for the coach, but he was made to bite his nails throughout the quarter-final at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, despite winning the first leg 2-1 in Slovenia.

Rolando Mandragora’s opener was quickly cancelled out and turned around by Aljosa Matko and the Klemen Nemanic header, but Moise Kean struck yet again to send them through 4-3 on aggregate.

“There are some positives, but I also see a lot where we need to improve,” Palladino told Sky Sport Italia.

“We achieved our objective by getting through to the semi-final, but we’ve got to learn from these mistakes, we cannot just stop playing and allow our opponents to take the initiative. Celje deserve credit too, they are a good team, and we are very proud to be in the semi-final.

“What we lack is the ability to deal with different moments of the match. We pay a heavy price for the first distraction every time. We also sat too deep after taking the lead, so we must understand that we can’t change our nature like that.”

Palladino expects better from Fiorentina in Europe

FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 17: Head coach Raffaele Palladino manager of ACF Fiorentina reacts during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between ACF Fiorentina and NK Celje at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 17, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Kean continues to have a remarkable campaign, as he has now scored 23 goals with three assists in 39 competitive games for Fiorentina.

“You know how much admiration and confidence I have in Moise, he’s having an incredible season and we saw his quality again in the goal today. I love that Moise always has the right attitude, regardless of the goals. He leads his teammates,” added Palladino.

Fiorentina have made it through to their third consecutive Conference League semi-final, something the club had previously achieved from 1957 to 1962 in the European Cup and twice the Cup Winners’ Cup.

They will face Real Betis in the next round, as the Spaniards won 2-0 away to Jagiellonia before this evening’s 1-1 home draw.

FLORENCE, ITALY – APRIL 17: Rolando Mandragora of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the UEFA Conference League 2024/25 Quarter Final Second Leg match between ACF Fiorentina and NK Celje at Stadio Artemio Franchi on April 17, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“Mentality is fundamental, as against the top teams your concentration needs to be 110 per cent. Against the so-called smaller sides, the risk is that we take things for granted and stop paying attention to the details.

“Seeing as we know how good Betis are, we don’t need me to motivate the players. We want to go all the way in this competition.”

There was tension straight after the final whistle on the touchline, with coach Albert Riera seemingly getting into an argument with members of the Fiorentina bench.

This continued in the press room, with Riera complaining in his conference.

“I went to shake his hand, Palladino told me I talk too much, but our squad is worth €13m while Fiorentina’s is worth €300m. He is younger than me and has a lot to learn, it was not good behaviour.

“Maybe one day I will be in charge of a team that is worth €300m and he will be on the bench of a side worth €13m, then we’ll see what happens.”

When the journalists in the Stadio Franchi told Palladino about this, his response was frosty.

“I don’t even want to hear what he has to say, I am not interested. There has to be respect between colleagues. He didn’t have that in the first leg and I just told him he ought to.”