Fiorentina boss Palladino reveals admiration for Kean after progressing to Conference League semis

Fiorentina head coach Raffaele Palladino praised striker Moise Kean after the Italian side secured a 2-2 draw against NK Celje on Thursday night, advancing to the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Kean, who is of Ivorian descent, scored the crucial equalizer in the 67th minute, just two minutes after Celje had taken the lead.

This goal marked Kean’s 23rd of the season across all competitions, underscoring his significant impact on Fiorentina’s campaign.

“You know how much admiration and confidence I have in Moise, he’s having an incredible season and we saw his quality again in the goal today.

“I love that Moise always has the right attitude, regardless of the goals. He leads his teammates.”

The match at Stadio Artemio Franchi was tense, with Fiorentina initially taking the lead through Rolando Mandragora in the 37th minute.

Celje responded with goals from Aljoša Matko and Nemanja Nemanic, putting the Slovenian side ahead before Kean’s timely equalizer ensured Fiorentina’s progression to their third consecutive Conference League semi-final.

However, the evening was marred by a post-match altercation between Palladino and Celje coach Albert Riera. Riera accused Palladino of refusing to shake hands after the final whistle.

Fiorentina will now face Real Betis in the semi-finals, with the first leg scheduled for May 1 and the return leg on May 8. The winner will advance to the final in Wrocław, Poland, on May 28.