Fiorentina`s head coach, Stefano Pioli, stated his agreement with the decision to send off Moise Kean for elbowing an opposing player during their 3-0 Conference League playoff victory against Polissya. Nevertheless, Pioli also expressed his belief that the opposing team`s players should have faced repercussions for their involvement in the incident.
The Italian international had an eventful first half, managing to score, provide an assist, and receive a red card all before the break in Fiorentina`s decisive 3-0 win over Polissya in the first leg of their Conference League playoff tie. Robin Gosens and Albert Gudmundsson contributed the other goals for the Viola.
The most debated moment of the match occurred just before halftime, when Kean was dismissed for retaliating with an elbow after being held and having his hair pulled by an opponent.
Remarkably, Kean was the sole player to receive a disciplinary action stemming from this confrontation.
Pioli`s Post-Match Reflections on Kean and the Victory
Pioli reiterated that Kean`s dismissal was justified but felt that Polissya was fortunate to avoid any sanctions themselves.
“Moise made a mistake, and his reaction warranted a red card, but the hair-pulling act should also have been penalized,” Pioli told TMW after the final whistle.
“I feel sympathy for him. He will learn from experiences like this. He will also be well-rested for the challenging start against Cagliari.”
Commenting on the overall match performance, Pioli added: “It`s a satisfying sensation. Attaching such importance to our first competitive fixture of the season means a great deal to us. We have put in significant effort over the past 40 days, and it`s fitting to be rewarded with a strong victory, though this result does not yet secure our qualification.”