Fiorentina Director Paratici Confident in Survival Battle and Kean's Readiness

Fabio Paratici, Fiorentina's director, expressed his conviction that the club will 'fight until the very end' to secure their Serie A status. He also stated that striker Moise Kean is prepared to 'make his mark' in the upcoming match against Inter and for the Italian national team.

The match is scheduled to commence at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19:45 GMT (20:45 CET).

The Viola have experienced a notable week, starting with a decisive 4-1 victory over Cremonese on Monday, which helped them move away from the Serie A relegation zone. This was followed by a 2-1 comeback win against Rakow on Thursday.

These results secured their progression to the Conference League quarter-finals, where they will face Crystal Palace.

Paratici's Leadership in Fiorentina's New Era

Despite only taking on his role at Fiorentina in February, Paratici previously collaborated extensively with Beppe Marotta, currently the President of Inter.

“I haven’t had the chance to meet Marotta yet, but I'm certain we will before the match begins,” Paratici informed DAZN Italia. He reflected on their significant professional collaboration, spanning 14 years at Sampdoria and Juventus, noting, “He taught me a great deal, as did other colleagues at Juventus and Tottenham. Although we’ve pursued different career paths, our distinct roles and personalities made us a complementary team.”

The battle against relegation has intensified, especially after Cremonese's 2-0 victory over Parma and home losses for Cagliari and Genoa this weekend, making the Serie A survival race highly unpredictable.

“We understand the necessity of maintaining focus and effort until the very last day of the season; this reality is clear and unchanging,” Paratici stated. He acknowledged some inconsistent performances but highlighted their progress to the Conference League quarter-finals and accumulation of points, asserting, “We will be fighting until the finish line. Therefore, there is no apprehension, merely a clear understanding of our position.”

Moise Kean made his return to the starting lineup on Thursday, his first appearance since March 2, and is once again leading the attack alongside Albert Gudmundsson today. Meanwhile, Manor Solomon, Luca Lezzerini, and Tariq Lamptey remain sidelined due to injury, and Rolando Mandragora is absent from the squad entirely with a calf issue.

“Kean experienced a two-to-three-week period unable to train, but he completed 60 minutes on Thursday and is starting tonight. We are all optimistic he will perform well for Italy,” Paratici commented. He emphasized the need for unity and optimism, stating, “We possess all the necessary elements to achieve our objectives. Kean is prepared to contribute significantly to both Fiorentina and the national team. Gudmundsson is also a player of high caliber, and we anticipate him delivering his quality to the squad.”