Source: The Guardian Sport
Fiorentina’s player stand in front of their furious ultras after their 1-0 defeat at home to Lecce.Photograph: Marco Bucco/La Presse/ShutterstockView image in fullscreenFiorentina’s player stand in front of their furious ultras after their 1-0 defeat at home to Lecce.Photograph: Marco Bucco/La Presse/ShutterstockSerie AFailed signings, fan fury and resignations: how Fiorentina became a crisis clubAfter spending big there was optimism in Florence, but their season has been a mess that may get worseNicky BandiniMon 3 Nov 2025 09.17 ESTLast modified on Mon 3 Nov 2025 09.19 ESTShareDaniele Pradè had describedFiorentinav Lecce as a “question of life or death”, but as the occasion approached he remembered football’s third option: you can always just walk away. On Saturday, a little more than 24 hours before this game was due to take place, he left his role as sporting director of the Viola by mutual consent.The timing was a surprise, but not the decision. Fiorentina had made a shockingly poor start to the season, collecting four points from their first nine games, and Pradè was adamant that he alone should shoulder the blame. “The club put €90m at my disposal to build the team,” he pointed out last month. “If anyone is responsible for the current situation, it’s me.”Those words were intended as a shield to the manager, Stefano Pioli. Perhaps even Pradè’s actions this weekend represented one last attempt at protection: not so much stepping away as in front of the metaphorical bullet he saw flying toward them. A series of banners had been hung around Florence by ultras on Saturday, bearing such messages as “team, manager, club: you are the shame of this city.”Juve’s tetchy Tudor period ends but recent mistakes cannot be undone | Nicky BandiniRead morePradè’s self-sacrifice could not suffice to temper all this anger. The only real chance Pioli had to save his job was to start winning games, but instead his team were beaten again on Sunday, losing 1-0 to Lecce. Their newly-promoted opponents scored early through Medon Berisha, then leaned on some excellent goalkeeping by Wladimiro Falcone – who denied Moise Kean more than once at the other end.Fiorentina were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute, only to have it taken away by a contentious VAR review. The first replays showed Luca Ranieri kicking his own heel before falling inside the box, but another angle showed Santiago Pierotti’s knee appearing to catch his calf while applying pressure, causing him to lose balance first.Tensions spilled over. Ranieri was seen screaming into the face of the fourth official, warning that if the penalty wasn’t given he was about to make a scene. Still, the greater fury seemed to belong to supporters. Inside the stadium they chanted for Pioli’s sacking. Outside, thousands gathered at the exits used by players and directors for an organised protest featuring drums, megaphones and fireworks.Pioli has not yet been sacked, though that news may arrive imminently. Four draws and…
Published: 2025-11-03T14:17:13
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