Fiorentina, Sandro Mencucci: «The procession against the Della Valle? Fomented by someone “

«I receive dozens of messages every day, here in Lecce there are also the guys from the viola club Casciana Terme, it was nice to meet up and rethink the snow in Gubbio and the rides in Europe. It was a unique week, I’ve been thinking about this match ever since I went to England. I said to myself “maybe we will challenge each other in the cup”. As soon as I arrived in Lecce, however, I resigned myself: sooner or later it had to happen. I will be excited and Corvino will be too. He is very close to Fiorentina ».

You left Fiorentina in a very difficult moment, with the square in turmoil. Regrets?

«The ending, with that demonstration of cheering in front of the Tod’s shops in via Tornabuoni, was ugly and absolutely undeserved for a family that gave more joys than pains to Florence. Years later, I believe that the work of the Della Valle family can be evaluated with more serenity, perhaps that anger had been fomented by someone ».

«I would only add that everyone should examine their conscience and ask themselves: ‘Was I right to act like this?’. For the rest I prefer to talk about the present and the future ».

Were you expecting a call from Commisso once the negotiations with the Della Valle family were closed?

«I have never spoken with Commisso in my life, we meet with Barone at the Lega assemblies but we limit ourselves to good morning and good evening. However, I believe that they did well to start from scratch, not to accept advice from anyone. When a new ownership takes over, that’s right “.

Find a Fiorentina behind in the standings. Is it the fault of the clogged calendar, of the lack of experience in managing double commitments or of a market that is not right?

«I will answer you by making a more general speech, not referring only to Fiorentina: I worked for three years in Leeds and I have never heard anyone complaining of fatigue. These alibis are all Italian and perhaps it would be time to make a qualitative leap. In the Premier League they have two cups, Boxing Day, they go at a thousand an hour, yet nobody complains: we learn from them to grow. As for the market, I don’t like it when others look into my house, so I don’t enter into other people’s affairs. I just hope that Fiorentina will win all the matches, except those against us ».

The stadium will be sold out tonight. A nice added value for you.

«Our weapons are those, we have to cling with our nails to Serie A, for us every point counts. We have a salary of 16 million gross, there is no one who has a tight budget like ours. Compared to Fiorentina there is no comparison, they rightly aim for a prestigious position. But we have our talents, such as Banda, the last raven, but also Baschirotto and Hjulmand, who unfortunately won’t be there ».

Earlier he mentioned Gubbio. The best memory you keep in purple?

“Anfield. It was a party with wives and children in tow, but also the consecration of a European Fiorentina. In 2002, those days of the club’s rebirth still remain unique, an unrepeatable bohemian period: we had the enthusiasm of children and we were able to rebuild something that seemed lost. I am honored to know that in some way I will remain forever in the history of my favorite team. The most difficult negotiation was Mutu: we had sold it to Roma, Pradé, who was then a Giallorossi, was waiting for me to sign a check for 20 million. They called me to tell me that nothing happened while I was already traveling. There and then I did not take it very well, as an administrator the accounts did not add up. Then when Adrian scored for Slavia in the Champions League preliminary round, a friend wrote to me “you saw a jerk, you wanted to sell him”. He was right ».

Calciopoli years later. What did that experience leave you?

«In the Naples trial I was acquitted, as well as all the referees. If they are innocent, one wonders: who am I allied with, with the Holy Spirit? It is a story that has hurt everyone, I am comforted by the respect I have kept in the world of football. The worst memory, however, is not that, losing the falconer was brutal. An unrepairable wound. Because of too many commitments that Sunday I was not there in Udine: sometimes I took it out on myself, I would have liked to be there to try to console each other ».

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