Turin: Abate Can’t Wait and Provides an Update on Coco’s Condition

Torino coach Ignazio Abate celebrates the come-from-behind victory against Fiorentina at the Franchi. The Granata showed real character in turning the game around against the Viola: “I’m happy about the first win, but even more so for the guys because they deserve it for how hard they work. I’m even happier about how it came about—with great character. We’ve shown that we believe in what we’re doing.”

New signing Mandragora was decisive: “He was the type of player we were looking for; to create chances, we need players of the highest quality. He’s a leader and has excellent game reading ability. We needed a key presence in certain roles, and he certainly provides that.”

Abate also explained the decision to leave Simeone on the bench: “We wanted to control possession and regain solidity, and he was coming off three consecutive games. And then he came on very well in the second half.” As for Coco’s injury at the end of the first half: “A bruise—I hope it’s nothing serious.”

The match was decided in the second half: after the Viola took the lead in the 48th minute thanks to Pellegrino’s shot from outside the box that caught Perri off guard, Torino responded with character, equalizing in the 74th minute through Mandragora, who answered his former teammate’s goal with a great left-footed strike from distance. Torino took the lead in the 82nd minute thanks to Adams, who finished with a spectacular acrobatic shot off an assist from Belghali.

Mandragora, the undisputed star of the evening, joined Torino on the final day of the transfer window from Fiorentina for approximately 5 million euros, signing a four-year contract through 2030. For the Campania-born midfielder, born in 1997, this marks a return to the Granata.