Italiano: ‘Fiorentina problem is in attack’

Vincenzo Italiano is increasingly frustrated with Fiorentina and their failure to convert chances after a Conference League draw with RFS Riga. ‘The problem is in attack, there’s no point denying it. We threw away two points today.’

The Viola have a serious problem converting their many chances into goals, it has been evident in a run of four consecutive games without finding the net, broken by Christian Kouame in the 1-1 with Juventus.

This result was identical, as the Antonin Barak volley off the inside of the left boot was cancelled out by Andrej Ilic going clear on a through ball.

Istanbul Basaksehir are now top of Group A, having won 4-0 against Hearts in Scotland.

“Unfortunately, we are getting accustomed to the same post-match interview, we create so many scoring opportunities and don’t convert them,” Italiano told Sky Sport Italia.

“We end up complicating games that we should’ve won comfortably. There is this difficulty in putting the ball in the net, because we have 30 attempts and don’t score.

“I don’t know if this is weighing on the lads, but we’re working all the time on these situations. If you keep wasting chances, you will pay for that eventually.

“This evening we threw away two important points. The problem is in attack, there’s no point denying it.”

Signing Luka Jovic from Real Madrid has so far failed to revive their fortunes, with Arthur Cabral and especially Jonathan Ikone also wasteful.

“We have played seven competitive games already this season, so we are forced to rotate the squad. It might risk losing the identity of the team, but we need to have everyone involved.”

Fiorentina fans jeered at the final whistle of this stalemate at the Stadio Franchi, their first real European fixture in five years.

“We raised expectations around this team and we were happy after a defeat last season because we showed character. Now we played a draw and were jeered off the field, but it has to push us on to do better.”