Palladino plans to drop De Gea for Terraciano in Conference League: ‘A great man’ | OneFootball

Raffaele Palladino has confirmed that he will drop David De Gea for Fiorentina’s upcoming Conference League match away against Panathinaikos on Thursday evening in order to give a rare opportunity to former no.1 Pietro Terracciano.

The Viola boss has also confirmed that Moise Kean is back and available for selection following his nasty head injury that left him hospitalised during the 1-0 loss against Hellas Verona in February.

Palladino gave his customary pre-match press conference in Athens on Wednesday evening, ahead of the Panathinaikos-Fiorentina clash at the Olympic Stadium on Thursday.

Palladino confirms De Gea-Terracciano switch and Kean return

Palladino began his press conference with an update on Fiorentina’s goalkeeping situation, confirming that De Gea will be dropped to make way for Terracciano.

(Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

“Terracciano plays,” Palladino said, reported via TMW. “He’s a great goalkeeper, a great man. I believe in him, the club believes in him. This change came naturally; Terracciano played in the league at the beginning of the season and De Gea in the cups. We have two strong goalkeepers and a young prospect in Martinelli.”

Palladino also confirmed that Kean is available to face Panathinaikos, but the decision will be down to the striker himself.

“He has overcome what happened to him in Verona. He’s available, tomorrow he will choose whether to take to the field.”

(EPA-EFE/Emanuele Pennnacchio)

Palladino on Fiorentina drop off in form

Palladino also addressed Fiorentina’s drop off in form this calendar year. The Viola had been on course for a top-four finish, and had even led the Serie A table in the early stages of the season, but have now lost three of their last four league matches and sit in seventh place, seven off Juventus in fourth.

“We were doing extraordinarily in the first half of the season, exceeding expectations. If we had maintained that average, we would be even further along, but you get negative moments during a season.

(Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“The cure is to continue growing, work and recover the guys who are unavailable at the moment. We’ve had important players out injured. The team is working hard and growing daily.

“The Conference League gives us an opportunity to give continuity after the victory against Lecce. We will need the right approach.”