Fiorentina Femminile are ready to kick off their 2025/26 season. They face Como tomorrow at 18:30 CEST at the Curva Fiesole stadium in what will be the first game of the Serie A Women's Cup. Coach Pablo Pinones Arce shared some of his thoughts with the press:

“We’ve worked for just over a month and I think that the team is ready in certain aspects. We’ve worked really hard on the team’s fitness – it’s been a really grueling time, but we’re ready for this game.

“We’ve been able to get an idea of how things are going in the two games which we’ve played, even if we’ve not been able to perform over the course of 90 minutes as we’d like to. We’ve got to be patient because we’re not only a new team with new players - the style of play we’re employing is new to everyone.

“I think every game is difficult. We can’t think too much about our opponents – we’ve got to focus on ourselves and what we’ve worked on. I want to see my team hungry to put into action what we’ve worked on in training. That’s the most important thing. Then it’s about developing on this as we play more games. We’re ready to do what we need to do. I really believe in this group and the staff are doing a great job. We’re more ready in certain game situations than in others. We’ll see how things pan out on Saturday.

“We’ve got to believe in ourselves and where we’re at right now. I’d like to see my side playing with intensity both with and without the ball and I think we’ve worked really well on this. We want to try and control games.

“I always prepare the same way, be it for the first game or for the final game. I stick by this approach, but I know my approach for a season opener might be a bit different compared to other games. This is because there’s this special feeling surrounding the season getting underway. My job there is more about tempering the emotions and energy levels going into the match. 

“We’ve only got this game in mind, and while it’s my first game it’ll be the first for many players who’ve come in during the summer. It’s this team’s first competitive fixture, but I’m really relaxed. We’ve worked well and the players are eager to do well. Now it’s about putting the finishing touches, going out there on the pitch and doing what we want to do.”