Fiorentina, especially in the last two years, has often gone beyond its limits: it is normal that sometimes there are missteps, even unexpected ones, like that of Verona
Five more games, hopefully six. Tomorrow evening in Bruges, Flanders, is decisive: inside or outside. Fiorentina knows well that they must find their last strength, they must bring out a lot of adrenaline, all the desire and pride needed to win this second consecutive Conference final. There is a promise made to Joe Barone, to the fans, but also to herself: to give herself a trophy. A cycle is closing and this Fiorentina wants to try to remain in Viola history forever. There are enormous motivations that must push this group to go even beyond a delicate moment, to overcome even the last obstacles. Some were surprised by the Verona test, losing always hurts, even more so, but it is clear that by necessarily changing ten men from one match to the next the concept of the team can evaporate. It happened like this. And I try to explain for the umpteenth time what it means to have gone further for three years and now pay for the efforts, because banal mistakes are made like those of Ranieri or Milenkovic in defense, but also of the attackers in front of goal. Those who know sport know well that certain results are achieved easily by good ones, others who are less good must put in greater concentration and determination to achieve those same results. Sometimes they succeed, other times they don’t. It’s the story of Fiorentina in these three seasons with Italiano, several players have been going further for some time, let’s not be surprised if someone sometimes finds it more difficult to stay at certain levels. It is the story of Fiorentina in this period which, after almost 120 matches in two years and many performance peaks, is paying off for its efforts. It is therefore normal that the coach has been trying to optimize for a few months and not all matches are the same as the others.
Play as if the 3-2 didn’t exist
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Tomorrow evening is the match. Obviously. We start from a good result in the first leg which gives more psychological strength than practical because in any case the match will be played as if the 3-2 did not exist. Fiorentina cannot manage and must not manage, they will have to play their match, as always, with their personality. Knowing full well, obviously, that the pace will have to be kept low so as not to play into the hands of the Belgians and the fundamental thing will be not to increase Brugge’s pace. However, always keeping in mind the offensive phase, the pressing to recover the ball and the counterattacks. As we said even before the first leg, you shouldn’t get anything wrong, at this level they punish you and the two Brugge goals are the result of Viola mistakes. Last Thursday, however, I had the clear feeling that Fiorentina had greater personality and experience. They will have to be deployed in massive doses. Training? In the first leg, Italiano chose a very technical team, as technical as possible. I think that tomorrow evening in the middle of the pitch we will see some players more inclined to defend like Mandragora, just to name one. Milenkovic will return to Thiago hoping he remembers that he is a high-level defender and not the one he has been in recent months. Certain matches are made on purpose to find all the motivation and stimuli. For the rest Terracciano obviously, Dodò and Biraghi on the outside, Milenkovic and Quarta in the middle. Midfield with Arthur (dribbling will be important) and Mandragora. Nico, Bonaventura and Kouamé behind Belotti. A couple of doubts, however, come to my mind. And what if Beltran played as a winger like he did against Verona when he came in, perhaps instead of Kouamè? It remains to be seen whether Italiano also has some solution in mind to make use of Kayode’s physicality, given that he has rested him in the last few matches. This is the staff anyway, it’s really a shame for Sottil who is now also unlucky, every time he gets to the top of his performance he gets injured.
Commisso and the stadium: Rocco is worried
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I return briefly to Verona. I too would have expected more, especially from those who have played less. Eighth place, but also seventh were and perhaps still could be a goal, Fiorentina has four matches to play. But it is clear that Brugge weighed on everyone’s heads, on and off the pitch. And the firing squad against Italiano now fires blanks. As mentioned, there are five matches left (hopefully six) and then the coach will leave Florence and this climate will be unbearable for him. The other day on national radio a listener called me, wondering, not understanding what was happening. He hoped that Italiano would choose Napoli, his team. Outside Florence the respect is enormous, evidently in the city someone is missing something… For now however Italiano has not made a choice, there have only been exploratory contacts, the coach’s mind is all on this final part of the Viola season. In two years he has played in six cup semi-finals (including the Final Four), one Italian Cup final and one Conference final, but they are not enough for him… Meanwhile, Rocco Commisso has returned to talk about the stadium and his concerns are legitimate. Part of the box office takings will be missing for years and there are no certainties about the future. It’s difficult to make spending plans in these conditions, but the pre-election moment doesn’t help to understand. The topic must be one of the main and urgent ones on the agenda of the new mayor or first citizen. Without an ownership stadium that increases revenue, we have said it a thousand times, clubs do not have much chance of development. It was one of the themes always addressed with great energy by Joe Barone. Deep emotion yesterday at Viola Park in front of his name which will remain forever on the facade of the Villa. But also the awareness that with his work he has laid the foundations for a stronger Fiorentina.
