Nikola Milenkovic insists Fiorentina will not curb their all-attack style of football in the Conference League Final and shrugs off a potential move to West Ham United.
It kicks off at the Eden Arena in Prague on Wednesday at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
The Viola have to do without injured Gaetano Castrovilli and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, while coach Vincenzo Italiano still has to choose his forward options from several alternatives.
While much of the reporting from the West Ham side has implied all Italian teams are defensive and hard to break down, that really does not sum up Fiorentina, who are the top scorers in the competition.
“West Ham are a powerful and fast-paced side with some very physically strong players. We’ve got to be on our toes, but we too have our strengths, so we need to be ambitious and believe in ourselves,” said Milenkovic in his press conference.
“Tomorrow is an historic game for us, one last step to put the icing on the cake.”
Sometimes the Italiano ethos of attack is the best form of defence can backfire, as seen when caught on the counter in a 2-1 defeat to Inter for the Coppa Italia Final on May 24.
“I don’t see why we should change our style of football. We achieved less than we deserved in the Coppa Italia, considering the performance. Tomorrow will be the same Fiorentina approach you have seen all season long.
“We’re aware that we can be in dangerous situations, but we accept those because they mean we can create more in attack. We need even more concentration and reading of the situations tomorrow. We’ve got to perceive the danger ahead of time, you can’t get anything wrong in a final.”
Milenkovic had been heavily linked with a transfer to West Ham United last summer, while in more recent months he was considered to be the heir to Milan Skriniar at Inter.
“The Viola jersey means a great deal to me. I’ve been here for six years and can only thank the club, Florence and all the fans. When I signed the new contract, I knew the ambitions of the club and also the quality of football we played last season. I didn’t know we would reach two Finals, but the potential of this club pushed me to believe.”
The Serbia international centre-back was asked specifically if he had been close to West Ham in the past.
“I hear transfer rumours too, but I’ve been here for six years, I renewed my contract twice, I am happy here and I will say nothing more.”