Football Italia
·6 October 2024
Football Italia
·6 October 2024
Inevitably, David De Gea is named Player of the Match after saving two penalties in Fiorentina’s 2-1 victory, but doesn’t want to take the credit, while Yacine Adli has ‘nothing but love’ for Milan.
It was an extraordinary night at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, as there were three penalties parried – two by De Gea to Theo Hernandez and Tammy Abraham, the other by Mike Maignan on Moise Kean.
Adli also scored against his parent club, while Christian Pulisic netted a remarkable volley from the trickiest of angles, but Albert Gudmundsson drilled in the winner.
There was never going to be any doubt on the MOTM award, as De Gea became the first goalkeeper since Federico Marchetti in Carpi-Lazio on May 8, 2016 to save two penalties in the same Serie A match.
However, the veteran Spaniard had no intention of taking the credit.
“It’s an incredible night. We have been working really hard for a couple of months, I’d prefer to talk about that more than the penalty saves, as we wanted to make the fans happy,” De Gea told DAZN.
“This evening’s victory is very important against a big club like Milan. We are working so hard and finally it is starting to pay off.”
It has been a remarkable few days for Adli, who scored in the Conference League against The New Saints on Thursday, then found the net against his parent club tonight.
“Today was a special game for me, certainly. I have a lot of love for this club and I wanted to do well. I am above all happy for the team, which is working hard and we deserved to bring home the three points,” Adli told DAZN.
The midfielder, who is on loan at a cost of €1.5m and with an option for Fiorentina to buy at another €10.5m, refused to celebrate against Milan.
“It is love and also respect, the way I have been treated over the last few years. I still have friends, brothers and fans there, so there is nothing but love.”