Viola Ecstatic After Reaching Champions League

Today Fiorentina finally reached their objective of qualifying for the Champions League, as the 1-0 victory away to Torino was enough to finish in fourth place with 63 points, 2 ahead of their persistent challengers AC Milan.

Coach Cesare Prandelli, midfielder Fabio Liverani, and striker Pablo Osvaldo commented on this achievement shortly after the match.

"In these three years the crowd was always close to us," said Prandelli, "they understood our choices, and today we achieved an important objective. I want to continue working and growing together with this group here in Florence.

“We will play the preliminary round at the end of an extraordinary season.

“Yet again I must thank these wonderful lads. Toro didn’t want to lose today, so finally football has changed!"

Of Osvaldo's exceptional match-winning goal, he said: “Osvaldo has these quirks and incredible tricks, but he needs to improve on the simple things…

“We have achieved a very important objective and President Della Valle came into the locker room to compliment everybody,” continued Prandelli.

“Tonight in Florence we will celebrate. In this moment in time I am very happy, it’s amazing how one goal can change everything. Now we will rest and then sit around a table to prepare for next season.”

He has also rubbished the possibility of leaving his side for a bigger club, having been linked with a move away, after catching the attention of other sides after working his magic with the Viola this season: “Will I stay on? Absolutely!”

“It was about time we got to the Champions League,” added Manuel Pasquale.

“For the past three years we have finished in fourth place and had nothing to show for it, but we played with intelligence and were able to react even when we heard Milan had taken the lead.”

Of his match-winner, Osvaldo said: "The important thing was to win, not for me to score, but I did and I'm even happier. I almost have to cry, it's incredible, I'm so happy."

Liverani added: "A great season. This group has improved a lot with time, we understood each other better. I've played a lot these seasons in Florence, I'm just disappointed I haven't scored more."

Danilo Pochini