Vincenzo Italiano acknowledges Fiorentina lost to Sassuolo due to the usual problem, as they ‘score very few goals considering all the chances’ that are created, but that leaves him hopeful for the future.
It had all been going so well for the Viola, who are through to the Supercoppa Italiana Final Four, the Coppa Italia quarter-finals and the Conference League Round of 16.
However, after three consecutive 1-0 victories, they capitulated by that same scoreline to Sassuolo at the Mapei Stadium with an Andrea Pinamonti goal and Giacomo Bonaventura’s parried penalty.
“After that first half, clearly we had to do something. I thought of doing it straight away, but after their goal was disallowed, it was crucial to attack their defence and put some danger in their area. We were so slow and predictable. We raised the tempo, became more dangerous and I think we at least deserved a point,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.
“It would’ve been valuable for our position, it’s a pity, but the first half was completely wrong.”
Nonetheless, Fiorentina still mark the midway stage of the season in fourth place, as Bologna were held to a 1-1 draw by Genoa on Friday and none of the chasing pack can catch them tomorrow.
“There is the sensation we have enormous margin for improvement, as we are scoring very few goals considering all the chances that we create. Therefore, with all those situations to be improved, there is a lot we can achieve in the second half of the season.
“Unfortunately, we are a little short on options, so I figured we had to invent something with Fabiano Parisi in a more advanced position, which Cristiano Biraghi can do as well, and it did create chances in that second half.
“We had the chances to equalise with the penalty, but a slip-up can happen and we need to put it behind us to focus on the Coppa Italia quarter-final.”
That showdown with Bologna is going to be played on Tuesday evening at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
It has been known since the start of Italiano’s Fiorentina tenure that they lack a striker who can really finish off those opportunities, with Lucas Beltran and M’Bala Nzola again missing sitters today.
“Fiorentina create those passing channels, we just need someone to put it in the net. Often we have passes that go across the six-yard box and nobody taps it in, we work on it all the time. We all tend to go to the back post and leave the rest of the six-yard box uncovered.
“This has been going for a long time, we’ve struggled since the start of the season to get those tap-ins at the near post. We will get there.”
Italiano was asked if he thinks Fiorentina need to sign a real fox in the box type on the January transfer market.
“No, I don’t think I can answer that question. We talked after Monza about what was needed. We are all trying to find solutions and put the players in a position to move in the way they are accustomed to. We work from morning to night on the movements, who needs to be where and fill the box.
“Every single time we have lost games, we ended up saying we could’ve scored goals and had lots of chances. Unfortunately, there’s no time for training with games every other day, evidently we have to try to practice during matches too.”