[dukeofdavinci]

Prandelli's hardest choice Saturday 5 January, 2008

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Fiorentina Coach Cesare Prandelli has broken his silence on the dark days where he considered leaving football to nurse his wife through her fatal illness.


The tactician’s story touched hearts all over Italy and beyond when his wife Manuela passed away after losing her battle with cancer.


“I was very moved by the way everyone reacted,” he admitted, with particular reference to the minute’s silence and beautiful gestures from the Viola fans at the Stadio Franchi upon his return to work.


Prandelli had resigned from the Roma job just weeks before the start of the season when his wife was first diagnosed, but remained on the Fiorentina bench when the disease returned.


“I never thought of quitting. Manuela was ill, but she was the first one to tell me to get out there on to the pitch. At most I considered taking another break for a while, but she didn’t want me to.”


That day of his return saw Inter win 2-0 at the Stadio Franchi and after the final whistle the two teams shook hands and applauded each other in a sign of respect.


It has now been appropriated and will be demanded of all sides from later this season, but it is a rule change that Prandelli disagrees with.


“That was a spontaneous moment that came from within us, it wasn’t imposed from outside. This is an odd country and so immediately someone tried to use it to suit their own ends. There should not be obligatory handshakes.”


Prandelli returns to work with Fiorentina after the Christmas break and is looking at his targets for the campaign.


“Considering we were fourth in 2006 and third in 2007 – discounting the Calciopoli penalties – then our objective must be the Champions League spots.”

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