Vincenzo Italiano has urged Fiorentina to use their "bitterness" from last year's defeat in the Europa Conference League final against Olympiacos on Wednesday.

Fiorentina lost the 2023 Europa Conference League final in Prague to West Ham 2-1, conceding in the 90th minute to miss out on the chance to lift the trophy.

The Viola have not lost a game in the competition on the way to the final, holding off Club Brugge 4-3 on aggregate to reach the final for the second consecutive year.

Despite suffering disappointment last year, Italiano is hopeful his team can use that as a lesson to lead them to the trophy this time around.

"The only thing that's different is that we've already experienced certain things," Italiano told a press conference before Wednesday's final.

"We have a bit of experience; we carry that with us and tomorrow we have to show it. We can't make any mistakes; we must stay alert and focused.

"Last year we didn't have a good ending. We'll bring that bitterness to make it end differently."

Meanwhile, Olympiacos are aiming to make history by becoming the first Greek side to win a European trophy.

Jose Luis Mendilibar, who won the Europa League with Sevilla last season, took over Olympiacos in February and is leading the team out for the final in their home city of Athens.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Mendilibar said he would not be making any changes, approaching this game as they have the rest.

"We have to stay calm and relaxed and do what got us to the final. To change anything would be a mistake.

"We have to treat this game like any other because that's how we managed to get to the final.

"Along the way, we've crossed the whole of Europe, playing against a lot of opponents.

"At times we were favourites, and then underdogs again. There are so many different moments and I think we could call it a marathon, and now we've reached the end."

Sevilla boss Jose Luis Mendilibar wants his team "to remove the ropes that bind us" and rise to the occasion of the Europa League rematch with Manchester United on Thursday.

A 2-0 win at Valencia in LaLiga on Sunday came despite Mendilibar feeling something was missing from the performance.

He considers it a huge boon that his team can still win while not at their best, and hopes they hit their peak at the right moment.

A fightback in Manchester by Sevilla means the quarter-final tie is locked at 2-2 heading into the second leg.

Speaking after his team's victory at Mestalla, Mendilibar said: "We have to gain confidence. Sometimes you don't play well and the result is with you. That makes you think that when you play well, you're going to do even better.

"It's going to give us peace of mind to be able to compete against Manchester on Thursday."

Messy defending from a corner allowed Loic Bade to sneak in to poach Sevilla's opener against Valencia in the 55th minute, before Suso's clean hit into the left corner in the 75th minute sealed the win.

Valencia had Ilaix Moriba sent off late on as the game ran away from them.

"We're having success in front of goal," said Mendilibar. "We've scored two goals in each game, It's what's giving us life."

It is true that Sevilla have scored twice in each of their last four matches, winning twice and being held to draws in the other two games.

These games have all followed Mendilibar's appointment on March 21 as successor to Jorge Sampaoli, with Sevilla improving step by step.

"We hope to be able to remove the ropes that bind us," Mendilibar said.

United also won 2-0 on their travels on Sunday, beating Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Mendilibar knows the threat Erik ten Hag's team will pose, but likes Sevilla's future prospects and said: "We hope to be able to bring quality into play from now on, not just with goals."

Sevilla have confirmed the appointment of Jose Luis Mendilibar as coach on a short-term contract after sacking Jorge Sampaoli.

A dismal run of form has seen Sevilla lose four of their last seven LaLiga games and they sit just two points above the relegation zone.

Sampaoli's second spell at the club came to an end on Tuesday following a 2-0 defeat at Getafe, which proved the final straw.

The Argentine replaced Julen Lopetegui in October but managed just six wins out of 19 LaLiga matches in charge, although he did lead Sevilla into the Europa League quarter-finals.

Sevilla moved quickly to confirm a replacement, with former Real Valladolid, Alaves and Eibar boss Mendilibar drafted in on a contract until June 30.

His first match in charge will be after the international break, with Sevilla visiting fellow strugglers Cadiz. They then host Celta Vigo on April 7 before travelling to Old Trafford for the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie against Manchester United six days later.

Mendilibar has overseen 448 LaLiga games as a coach, winning 128 and losing 195.