Fiorentina Coach Paulo Sousa refused to confirm or deny a meeting with Zenit representatives. “I’ve always been clear with my club.”
The Derby di Toscana with Empoli is on Sunday at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Fiorentina Coach Paulo Sousa refused to confirm or deny a meeting with Zenit representatives. “I’ve always been clear with my club.”
The Derby di Toscana with Empoli is on Sunday at 11.30 UK time (10.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
There were reports Sousa had dinner with Russian figures last Sunday who were representing Zenit St Petersburg, but the tactician was surprisingly evasive when asked about it.
“I cannot justify myself every time I go out for dinner,” said Sousa in a Press conference.
“I have a contract and I am the Coach of Fiorentina. We have seven games and 21 points at our disposal, so I am concentrated only on that.
“Could I open a new era with Fiorentina? A Coach doesn’t just train the players, he needs to have a complete 360 degree vision, and so far this is what I have done.
“It takes time, trust, ideas, everything. I have always been clear with my club. The only way to go forward is to look each other in the face and say things clearly.
“My rapport with the club owners is the same as the one I have with you journalists. I must be clear and direct.
“Did the owners ask for an explanation on what emerged in the papers? No, because there was nothing to clarify.
“The final objective for the season is to see the continual improvement of my players.”
Empoli have been in dire form lately, but play a very similar style of football to Fiorentina.
“Marco Giampaolo attacked us early, allowing them to score goals. It was a game with great intensity and quality. The 2-2 result certainly wasn’t the best, but we did beat them in many of the statistics.
“Despite the negative results, Empoli are constantly growing. Tomorrow we will both seek the victory to change gear and end the season in the best way.”