Stefano Pioli publicly declared that he considered Fiorentina's dismissal right, explaining that his management of the team was characterized by an "exaggerated raising of the bar" and inadequate communication. The coach, after leading Viola for 14 games with an average of 1.14 points per game, was dismissed on 4 November 2025. Since then, Pioli has never returned to the pitch but has dedicated himself to refresher courses and preparatory visits to professional growth, such as the recent visit to the Como sports center and to Cesc Fabregas.
During the interview with Corriere dello Sport, Pioli specified that he was not looking for any alibi for his defeat. "No, no alibi. The responsibilities were almost exclusively mine," he declared. The manager also admitted that his initial energy and confidence, when he returned to Florence, may have led to an overestimation of situations, contributing to the team's failure. "I was immensely sorry because I had returned to Florence with so much enthusiasm, so much energy, so much confidence. Perhaps this was precisely the mistake," he added.
Pioli acknowledged that he had made mistakes in managing the team and maintained that the dismissal was fair. “I think it was the right dismissal at the time, especially in the last match against Lecce we didn't show any reaction,” he said. He also admitted that he communicated poorly with players, creating excessive expectations. “I have never blamed others, I have always looked within myself and learned more from negative situations than from positive ones,” he explained.
The coach, former coach of Milan and Inter, underlined that his experience in Florence was not an "excuse" but an opportunity to reflect on his responsibilities. “I have always thought that when things don't go well the blame cannot be entirely attributed to the coach, however in this case I take it,” he stated. Currently, Pioli continues to work on his professional development, keeping the doors open to any future opportunities in Italian football.