Vincenzo Montella is “tempted to start Mario Gomez” in Fiorentina’s Europa League match with PAOK tomorrow.
Vincenzo Montella is “tempted to start Mario Gomez” in Fiorentina’s Europa League match with PAOK tomorrow.
After eight games, the ‘Aspromavroi’ are top of the Greek League, five points clear of Olympiacos and they are expected to rest a few key elements for this match, as they face Panathinaikos at the weekend.
But Montella doesn’t think that tomorrow’s game will be easier than the one in Thessaloniki.
“I doubt that PAOK will come here thinking about their League match against Panathinaikos,” Montella said during his pre-match Press conference today.
“I don’t trust this theory and actually I think that they will give 110 per cent to do well here.
“There are some strong sides in the Europa League and we just can’t underestimate any kind of opponent. I actually expect a very rugged match against an opponent that will definitely be very present.
“In Greece they showed that they are a complete team. So if we ‘remove the tux’ and stay focused, we can do a lot to qualify to the next round.”
Montella was referring to a comment made by Fiorentina midfielder David Pizarro during the same Press conference.
“I’d like to know where they have got the tuxedo from, because I doubt they have bought it themselves or that I bought it for them!” joked the Coach.
In case of a win, the Viola would grab a ticket for the Last 32 in the Europa League.
“This game can be decisive for us but in fact also for them. If we win we could qualify. We also need to win this game in order to find that consistency and that confidence that we are looking for.”
Fiorentina have alternated a mix of results since the start of the season and Montella knows that consistency must be their immediate target.
“Also in the past they said that it could be a delicate week, and we have experienced similar periods where expectations went beyond reality. We are aware that, God forbid, there could be even worse moments.
“But at the same time, we are aware that we can do much better, so we only have to roll up our sleeves in order to set our season back on the track we think we deserve. The team is aware that we can do more and this certainly is a good thing.”
Federico Bernardeschi fractured a bone in his ankle and won’t be available for five months.
The injury follows up the ones of Giuseppe Rossi and Gomez, who is apparently approaching a decent level of form.
“I am tempted to start Mario Gomez, but I’ll have to wait and see because I am sure that he doesn’t have the full 90 minutes under his belt, but at the same time I know that he needs to play.
“Mentally I think he feels well and you can see that he’s got the determination and will to show who he is and that’s why I am confident about his future performances. I know that he wants to give his best in order to pay Florence back, but he has been unlucky too.
“I must say that I am really sorry for Bernardeschi, but all I can say is that he needs to be calm and detached because I also suffered a similar injury when I was more or less his age and then I actually had surgery in the same hospital!
“It’s a serious injury but if you take it in the right way then you can also see some positive implications there.
“Sometimes it helps to stop, also if you consider that normally you can fully recover from such an injury.”