We have to react

Fiorentina defender Manuel Pasqual is confident the club can swiftly move on from their Italian Serie A defeat to Verona as they prepare for Thursday's UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash with Dynamo Kiev. La Viola's faint UEFA Champions League hopes were all but extinguished as Mounir Obbadi secured a late 1-0 win for Verona at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Monday evening.

Pasqual, who has been at the club for ten years in July, said on his club's official website: "Sorry for the goal conceded, for the defeat.

"Too bad, we had closed Verona out, but in the end we left them space to mount a counter attack where they played to their strengths. We will need everyone to be here at the end. We want to move forward in the Europa League. Everyone would like to see us win the game."

Vincenzo Montella's side, who remain nine points behind third-placed Roma, controlled much of the match but failed to create enough chances, with Alessandro Diamanti's missed penalty in the second half proving crucial. Verona goalkeeper Rafael guessed correctly to save the spot-kick low to his left and that proved a catalyst to spur the visitors on, with Obbadi nipping in to secure the win in the 90th minute from close range.

"We are a bit bitter that we have some fans (that) booed, but the majority continued to support us to the end," Pasqual added. "In the second half we took care of many counter attacks because we played very centrally, and their midfielders subsided."

Last week, the Italian side claimed a 1-1 draw against Dynamo at NSC Olimpiyskiy thanks to substitute Khouma Babacar's crucial stoppage-time equaliser.

Looking ahead to Thursday's last-eight second-leg with their Ukrainian opponents on home turf, Pasqual concluded: "We continue to work. We always want to win and maybe this was the problem today. We must go through for sure. We have to react. We have to get onto the field to win Thursday. With Dynamo (we) will play our game."
Source: FIFA.com