Vincenzo Italiano explains what Lucas Beltran still needs to do after netting his debut Serie A goal, as Fiorentina receive ‘a boost’ with the 3-0 win over Salernitana.
The Viola had been doing far better in the Conference League than Serie A, managing only one win and four defeats in the build-up to this match.
However, they put the past behind them with a thumping 3-0 victory over Pippo Inzaghi’s Salernitana.
Above all, it saw Argentine striker Beltran finally break his duck with the debut Serie A goal, converting an early penalty, before Riccardo Sottil’s curler and a Jack Bonaventura finish.
“This was a very good performance, a great approach from the start with the right focus, because we needed to start pushing harder in Serie A and getting ourselves up the table,” Italiano told DAZN.
“We scored with a striker and a winger, we played the way we needed to, even with very little time to recover and prepare after Thursday evening.”
They were in action on Thursday in the Conference League, beating Genk 2-1 to guarantee progress into the knockouts.
“Our position in the table required a great performance and the lads did well to understand the importance of this match.”
Beltran had found the net in the Conference League, but still seems to be struggling with the changes involved in Serie A.
“As well as the penalty, he worked hard, held the ball up and tried to connect with the midfield. He is still quite a timid person, so needs to open up more off the field too. He is coming from a different continent, a different style of football, but he’s adapting,” added the coach.
“I am also pleased for Sottil, who had many chances to break that drought and did it today. There were issues in converting opportunities into goals and we are working on them, so this is a booster for us.
“There is always pressure on the players, coach and club, it’s part of the job and when this is the response, that means we have pride and want to prove ourselves. The fans are the 12th man and we need to make more of that in our home fixtures, the way we did today.
“I always said that when the squad pushes hard in training, it means whoever gets to play has been giving their best and deserves the position.”
This result, along with Bologna being held to a last-gasp 1-1 draw at Lecce, bumps Fiorentina into fifth place awaiting Roma’s visit to Sassuolo.