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Fiorentina coach Italiano offers no excuses for Coppa semi defeat

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano offered no excuses after their 4-1 Coppa Italia semifinal defeat to Atalanta.

The result saw Atalanta reach the final 4-2 on aggregate. Nikola Milenkovic saw red for the Viola.

“Inevitably, the red card is the big regret. It's tough when down to 10 men, you see it changes everything. That was our first red card of the season and we had successfully avoided that for a year," Italiano told Sport Mediaset.

“We managed to defend in an organised fashion and contain Atalanta, we even managed to score a goal, but down to 10 it's tough. We lose, but I think until the goal for 3-1 we defended really well and frankly that's not something we always do.

“It's a pity, we came here eager to cause problems for Atalanta and reach the Final. They got back on level terms with that Scamacca goal and then we no longer had the energy to react in stoppages. I won't even talk about the fourth goal, as the game was over by then."

Italiano added: “It is satisfying that we are in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia and Conference League for two years running. Naturally, we are upset and wanted to play another Final, but Atalanta did well to make the most of the extra man today.

“I think we could've had a bigger advantage in the first leg, but Marco Carnesecchi was extraordinary and kept the scoreline down, allowing them to win this tie."

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