Fiorentina boss Vincenzo Montella is adamant that his team must win their Serie A match against Chievo on Sunday before they prepare for their next Europa League meeting with Juventus on March 20.
The Viola are entering Sunday’s home game against the Flying Donkeys after managing a 1-1 draw with the Bianconeri in their first leg Europa League round of 16 tie on March 13 and the tactician wants his squad to focus on securing more points in the league before they worry about their next match with Juve.
Montella spoke during his pre-match press conference on Saturday about the challenge Chievo can present in Florence, while also commenting on Thursday’s second leg with the Old Lady and the conditions of his players, including Mario Gomez, who scored the Gigliati’s equaliser in the first leg, and Giuseppe Rossi, who has been steadily recovering from his knee injury ahead of schedule.
“My job is to put out players with the right motivation,” said the 39-year-old.
“Today was our first real training session after the Europa League. We haven’t picked up many points recently in Serie A, so it’s complicated tomorrow, but also a game that we must win.
“We’re coming into it between two very important matches, while Chievo were able to train all week thinking only of how to beat Fiorentina.
“Chievo are very well-organised, especially at the back, and are an old-fashioned Italian team who play only for the result. Their coach Eugenio Corini is smart and tactically astute, as shown when they took points off Napoli and Inter.
“Gomez? Aside from the goal, he is improving. We already knew how strong he was and perhaps with the goal his confidence can also grow.
“I left out Juan Cuadrado in Turin as a tactical choice, that is all. I wanted to put him on in the second half, but injuries forced me into two substitutions.
“I’d say Thursday showed an improvement in terms of mentality. This team believes in what it does and has to play this way to give its best, even against the strongest opponents. That makes me proud.
“I hope we can get something more than a draw in the second leg. It wasn’t easy in Turin, as they knock three goals past everyone there, but in Serie A we reacted strongly in the second half and did the same on Thursday too.
“You risk collapsing in those situations, but instead we reacted. It’s a start, a promising one, and you can see the growth of a team through these moments.
“On Thursday I expect to see the Stadio Franchi packed out. I realise with the economic crisis it’s not easy for fans to come to the stadium twice a week, but we’ve got to take the game to Juventus. We can’t play for a 0-0.
“In a way perhaps there is too much enthusiasm from the supporters, as we haven’t achieved anything yet. It’s all still in the balance.
“Rossi? We are happy that things are progressing well for him. We await him in Florence soon and it’ll be good to have him around every day, but it would be counter-productive to rush his recovery.
“I do hope to have him at my disposal for the final weeks of the season.”
