Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano said the Viola ‘must help’ Dusan Vlahovic to score goals and believes ‘the ups and downs’ are normal. ‘We are under construction’.
The Viola are being asked to react after the 1-0 defeat to newly promoted Venezia last time and Italiano feels his team are still looking for ‘an identity’.
“There are no realities without ups and downs,” Italiano said. “We are also facing them, especially because we are under construction.
“I knew what difficulties we could encounter in a match like the one against Venezia. There have been many changes on the bench and there are few teams that have perfection.
“We are looking for it, we are trying have an identity and to propose something different by improving from all points of view.”
The coach admitted he was not happy about the lost points in Venice but wants to see a reaction against Cagliari on Sunday.
“I’m very angry, disappointed, even the lads know it,” Italiano said. “Had we won the game, we could have lived a week with a great position in the table, but that didn’t happen.
“We can’t break down or get depressed. We must react, starting with tomorrow. We must always try to work by carrying out our game plan and take the home advantage.
“I see an important growth, especially in terms of passion for the game that we keep everywhere we go.”
Dusan Vlahovic has been writing headlines due to his contractual situation at the club and Italiano hopes the fans will support the Serbian.
“The Vlahovic case is between him and his personal affairs,” Italiano said. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.
“As for his performances, we have to try to give him a big hand to put him in a position to receive more balls and I think we can do it.
“I hope the stadium is on the side of the team for 90 minutes. I think every supporter must have the ability to push for the whole game. Then, if you don’t appreciate it in the end, after the curtains are closed, you can say what you want.
“The team at this moment are approaching the game well, but having the ball is not enough.”
Gaetano Castrovilli and Nico Gonzalez are back in the squad, but the midfielder is not expected to start against Cagliari tomorrow.
“We have missed Castrovilli, for his change of pace with the ball, which is a unique feature,” Italiano said. “This week he becomes available again after the first week of work.
“Characteristics that Nico Gonzalez has too, who I’m convinced can score more goals. He knows how to use his head too, which is no small feature.”
Italiano then focused on the opponents arriving from Sardinia and said Walter Mazzarri’s team will provide a stern test with ‘energy and enthusiasm’.
“I see a team with highly experienced players, starting at the back with [Diego] Godin and [Martin] Caceres,” he said. “But they have talented players like [Nahitan] Nandez and Keita [Balde] too.
“In this league they can achieve a lot. The arrive from a win, unlike us. They arrive with energy and enthusiasm. They are very dangerous when they counterattack.
“We must perceive danger when we are not on the ball. It will take a lot of patience and looking for the right time to attack. It’s better to keep the ball and concede as little as possible.”