As Juventus look set to wrap up a fifth straight Scudetto, Kevin Pogorzelski takes a look at the reasons behind Fiorentina’s recent collapse and why the club has fallen so far behind the league leaders despite such a promising start to the campaign.
A week can feel like a long time in football, and the last few months must feel like an eternity to Fiorentina fans, given the change in fortunes since they last met Sunday’s opponents Juventus in Serie A.
Back on 13 November 2015, the Viola were flying high domestically and looking as though new coach Paulo Sousa had finally found the formula that would deliver the Champions League riches that had alluded predecessor Vincenzo Montella.
Fiorentina sat second behind big spending Inter, but had dismantled the Nerazzurri 4-1 in a convincing display at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza at the end of September, as Nikola Kalinic was surprising everyone in Italy with 9 goals in his first 15 matches of the season.
In contrast, the Bianconeri looked to be faltering in the wake of Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez leaving the club, trying to find a new identity whilst attempting to retain their all-encompassing dominance of Italian football.
After coming so close to a first historic treble, Massimiliano Allegri’s men failed to win any of their first three matches and looked someway off a fifth consecutive scudetto, as the weight of their famous number ten shirt seemed to weigh heavily on Paul Pogba.
However, fast forward five months and the tables have turned almost full circle. Although victorious against Sassuolo last weekend – their only win in seven games – Fiorentina are in freefall and Sousa looks powerless to reverse their fortunes.
As for the Bianconeri, despite a disappointing exit from the Champions League to Bayern Munich, the Old Lady have been nothing short of unstoppable since the Viola visited Turin, and sit pretty at the top of the table with a nine point cushion over nearest rivals Napoli and could be crowned champions on Monday.
Credit for that achievement must go to the subtle touch and unflappability of coach Allegri, the 48-year-old choosing to patiently wait for the new arrivals to blend gradually with the rest of the squad – particularly Paulo Dybala.
While Kalinic was banging in goals for fun over in Florence, many in Turin were questioning why someone who cost €32 million from Palermo, and considered proven in Serie A, was so often warming the bench.
However, while the Croatian suddenly looks as though he could have been a flash-in-the-pan – just two goals since their November encounter – Juventus’ starlet looks worth every cent after being given the time to become a fundamental part of the team.
With four games remaining Dybala, with 16 Serie A goals to his name, could still beat fellow Argentine Tevez’ haul of 20 goals last term, and is the only Bianconeri player to hit double figures this season.
AC Milan struggled against Carpi on Thursday night, a result which will probably see the Viola cling onto fifth place by the smallest of margins, but a season that once promised Champions League qualification is likely to end with Europa League football again at the Franchi next term.
Arguably, as reigning champions and investment made in replacing that famous trio, Juventus were always likely to recover and mount a significant challenge for the title, but even with a change of coach the Viola are simply treading water in Serie A.
Reports are already speculating that Sousa will depart this summer, but there seem very few reasons why anyone in Florence would want the Portuguese to remain in Florence if they really harbour hopes of reaching the European elite.
Instead of once expecting the Old Lady to arrive with three games to go and contest the Scudetto, the Viola fans are back to looking for bragging rights over their bitter rivals in what would be a relatively hollow victory.
With Napoli, Inter and AC Milan improving under new leadership this term, questions must be asked why, regardless of coaching appointments, Fiorentina are destined to always fall short in the race for the European promised land.
