Martin Jorgensen says Fiorentina will beat Rangers for grieving gaffer Cesare Prandelli

Apr 20 2008 By Gavin Berry In Florence

Cesare Prandelli

FIORENTINA star Martin Jorgensen says winning the UEFA Cup would be the perfect gift for grief-stricken boss Cesare Prandelli after the death of his wife.

Prandelli's partner Manuela lost her lengthy battle with cancer in November last year and her passing left everyone at the Florence club badly shaken.

Danish international Jorgensen - who played in La Viola's 1-0 win over Palermo last night - insists the tragedy brought the team together as they rallied round their stricken gaffer. Prandelli quit his former post at Roma in the 2004/05 season to look after Manuela who suffered the same illness as ex-Celtic boss Martin O'Neill's wife Geraldine.

But after Prandelli returned to the game with the Florence side two years ago his wife passed away and he is still coming to terms with the loss.

Manuela died on November 26 and Fiorentina played AEK Athens in Greece in theUEFA Cup just three days later with Prandelli's assistant Gabriele Pin in charge.

Now Jorgensen - who attended the funeral with his team-mates - would love to end an emotionally-charged season on a high.

And he insists helping the Italians to their first European success since they beat Gers in the 1961 European Cup Winners' Cup final would be the perfect way to do it. But they'll have to overcome the Light Blues again as the clubs are paired together in the UEFA Cup semi-final with the first leg at Ibrox on Thursday.

Jorgensen said: "It would be nice to win the UEFA Cup for the boss. He had a hard time looking after his wife and is still having a hard time.

"But he is a great coach and if he could lift the UEFA Cup it would be fantastic for him as a person. The players have all rallied behind him and so have the fans.

"When it happened there was a lot of love for him from everyone in Florence. Our coach is a great person and he is in the hearts of the fans.

"Even if we don't win the UEFA Cup or get fourth place in Serie A he will still be loved in Florence."