Jovetic admits he won’t celebrate if he scores in Conference League Final against Fiorentina

Olympiacos striker Stevan Jovetic admits he won’t celebrate if he scores a goal in the Conference League Final against Fiorentina out of ‘love and respect’ for the Viola.

Jovetic’s Olympiacos will meet Fiorentina in a Conference League Final in Athens on May 29.

The Montenegro international scored 40 goals in 135 appearances with Fiorentina between 2008 and 2013 before completing a permanent €26m transfer to Manchester City.

“I still own a house in Florence, near the stadium,” the 34-year-old told Gazzetta.

The striker admitted that he £almost couldn’t believe” he’d met his former club in the Conference League Final.

“I’ve thought about so many things. There are some lads I still talk to. Frey, Mutu, Kuz [Kuzmanovic] and Seferovic and three warehouse workers at Fiorentina, especially Leo Marchetti,” he said.

“It seems like a movie script. I’ve thought about another thing. Last season, all the clubs I played for, Manchester City, Inter Fiorentina and Sevilla, reached [European] Finals. Evidently, it was my turn now and I am happy because it’s the first Final in my career.”

Jovetic reveals his best moments at Fiorentina

What are the best memories of his time in Florence?

“I had long hair and fantastic teammates. My goals against Liverpool and that Champions League match against Bayern Munich. The refereeing in that match wasn’t exactly perfect, and I am quite sure we would have reached the Final without that,” he said.

“But mostly the goal against Sporting CP that allowed us to win the Champions League playoff. Everything changed there.”

Late coach Sinisa Mihajlovic once said Jovetic was the best player he ever worked with.

“It was such a nice thing to say,” said the striker.

“His death has hurt me. We were on good terms, everyone loved him. I remember that when he arrived, everything stopped. He was Sinisa…”

Morocco international Ayoub El Kaabi will predictably be the biggest threat to Fiorentina in the Final. The 30-year-old has netted 32 goals in 49 games this term.

Jovetic won’t celebrate if he scores in Conference League Final against Fiorentina

“I can’t reveal our secrets; otherwise, they’ll read everything in Florence,” Jovetic said smiling.

“El Kaabi is really strong. I didn’t know him before, but it’s so easy for him to score goals.

“We have great individual quality, plus the organisation and the fans. We won’t play in our stadium, but many of our fans will be there. It will be like playing at home.”

The final will be played in Athens, but it will be at the Agia Sophia Stadium, home to AEK Athens.

If Jovetic were to score against the Tuscans he would not celebrate.

“No, if it happens, I won’t do it because I love and respect Fiorentina too much,” the striker concluded.