Vincenzo Montella is not worried by poor form for Mario Gomez and Neto, but admits Fiorentina “are paying for the need to amaze.”
Vincenzo Montella is not worried by poor form for Mario Gomez and Neto, but admits Fiorentina “are paying for the need to amaze.”
The Viola visit Genoa at Marassi on Sunday, kicking off at 19.45 UK time. Click here for a match preview.
“We are paying for the fact Fiorentina need to win, convince and amaze. It is a weight on us, one that not even Juventus are carrying. We have to think about enjoying our football, then the results will come with time.”
The Coach spoke in his Press conference after a 1-0 home defeat to Grasshoppers on Thursday, though they still went through to the Europa League on away goals.
That performance included several clear errors from Gomez in attack and Neto in goal.
“Gomez has always struggled at the start of a season, partly because he’s trying too hard. He is at the disposal of the squad and doesn’t focus on himself too much. His form is the last of my concerns.
“Neto has to be stronger than all the paper talk around him. If he had conceded the goal Manuel Neuer did for Bayern Munich in the European Super Cup last night, he’d have been torn apart. We have faith in Neto.”
Juan Cuadrado could be rested with Genoa after picking up a knock against Grasshoppers.
“We need to rediscover our psychological freshness,” continued Montella. “Games can be won with experience and you need to be sharp in the crucial moments.
“Genoa push hard down the flanks, while their midfield has physicality with Juraj Kucka and geometry with Francesco Lodi, then they support Alberto Gilardino. It’s nice to see a young Coach like Fabio Liverani on the bench.”
This will be Montella’s 100th professional match as a Coach.
“Of these 99 so far, I learned a lot from the defeats, but I struggle to choose one that is best or the most important.”