Vincenzo Italiano is ‘starting to get irritated’ at Fiorentina failing to convert chances against big clubs, especially penalties after the defeat to Inter. ‘We’re dropping too many points now.’
Following the Supercoppa Italiana semi-final defeat to Napoli, another missed penalty proved terribly costly for the Viola.
It was Jonathan Ikone who failed in Riyadh, but tonight the usually reliable Nico Gonzalez stepped up on his first appearance six weeks after a thigh strain and scuffed it straight into the arms of Yann Sommer.
Lautaro Martinez had opened the scoring with a glancing header at the near post on a corner, so that proved enough for Inter to take all three points in Florence.
“As well as being angry, I am a bit disappointed that we never seem to find that moment to turn these games around, or at least not lose them,” Italiano told DAZN.
“So often we keep the ball in the opposition half, move it around well and do not finish them off. I said before that penalties are a valuable chance and we cannot waste them, but we seem to be cursed at the moment.
“It is honestly starting to irritate me. We lose points, we lose games, but I remain convinced that if we play like this, we will do great things.
“The problem is not the hierarchy, it’s a matter of making sure that whoever steps up feels confident. It is becoming an issue too because some lads who took penalties received a lot of criticism and that gets to them.
“Don’t forget we got through two Coppa Italia rounds thanks to penalties that were converted by defenders. When you step up, you have to be cool-headed.
“Nico is a good penalty-taker, these things can happen. But in general we have to do better, because it’s three penalties now that cost us three games.”
It is not just from the spot where Fiorentina famously struggle to get the ball into the net.
“I liked everything we did today, on and off the ball. We limited an Inter side in remarkable form, Bonaventura did well as a makeshift wide striker, a role he had earlier in his career.
“It was the usual issue, we created lots of chances and caused Inter huge problems, but didn’t pick up any points. We’re dropping too many now.
“The offside trap worked well this evening, we knew that we had to take a few risks against Inter. We could’ve done more against Juventus and Inter, but generally we lose because these teams are stronger than us and it is already impressive to cause them this many problems.
“We will eventually get closer to them, maybe even beat them, having made life very difficult for the top two in the table.”
Fabiano Parisi was furious at the goal, insisting he had been pushed by Lautaro Martinez.
“I think there was a push on Parisi allowing Lautaro Martinez to score. I personally no longer do defensive blocks in training on set plays, as I’ve been told they are no longer allowed, so to concede like that is disappointing.”
#FiorentinaInter, #Italiano: "La maledizione sui dischetti inizia a non piacermi"https://t.co/HEHL8s2Fvd
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) January 28, 2024