Fiorentina coach ready to face his ‘second family’

Date: 20th December 2014 at 4:52pm
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Vincenzo Montella feels Empoli will present a strong test for his Fiorentina side on Sunday.

The Viola lie in eighth place as they prepare to face their Tuscan neighbours at the Artemio Franchi Stadium and Montella, who started his professional at Empoli is happy to see his former team doing well.

”I am really happy,” he told reporters. ”I spent my teenage years there and it was like a second family to me, their youth set-up should be an example used by a lot of other clubs.”

Despite having home advantage Montella admits it will be tough in all areas against Maurizio Sarri’s side, continuing: ”I saw Empoli a lot last season in Serie B so I know a lot about them and I think they are one of the most organised teams in Serie A this season. They are dangerous in all areas because they know how to use their height and skill to good advantage.”

Montella is also a big admirer of the Empoli coach and admits every coach can learn something off each other: ”From every coach you try to learn something, with the squad Sarri has he puts it to good use and as I said he has made them very organised.”

Montella also confirmed that Mario Gomez and Juan Cudrado had trained during the week but that Khoumar Babacar will not return in time for the game and that there will be more news on when Giuseppe Rossi will be fit in the New Year.

”The temptation with Boubacar is not to risk it as he has not trained with us since his injury and Rossi I will know more on when we return after the winter break.”

 

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