Stefano Pioli has admitted that Fiorentina were justified in sacking him, speaking candidly about his difficult spell in charge in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I’m not saying anything more now, and that’s the right thing to do. When someone is excluded, they are truly excluded.” Pioli was dismissed by Fiorentina on November 4, 2025, after managing just 14 matches during his return to the club, averaging only 1.14 points per game. Since then, he has not returned to coaching, instead attending further training courses and taking part in visits aimed at his professional development. Most recently, he visited Como’s training centre, where he met the club and Cesc Fàbregas.

It is natural to wonder whether there were any mitigating circumstances surrounding the former AC Milan and Inter Milan manager’s latest spell in charge. However, the coach from Parma has refused to make excuses.

“No, there are no excuses. Almost all the responsibility lies with me,” Pioli admitted in his interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have always believed that when a team performs poorly, the blame cannot rest entirely on the coach. But this time, I accept the responsibility. I returned to Fiorentina with tremendous enthusiasm, energy and confidence, and I deeply regret what happened. Perhaps that was where I went wrong. My enthusiasm and confidence led me to overestimate certain situations. I set the bar too high, and ultimately, I was overwhelmed by those expectations.”

Pioli also acknowledged other mistakes he made during his time in charge of La Viola, explaining why he believes the club was right to dismiss him.

“I think the decision to sack me at that point was justified, especially because we showed no reaction in our final match against Lecce,” he recalled. “I have never blamed anyone else. I always reflect on my own mistakes, and I learn more from difficult situations than from positive ones. At Fiorentina, my communication was also poor. I know that, because I created too many expectations among everyone involved.”