Vincenzo Montella warned Udinese” data-scaytid=”3″>Udinese are “a tough opponent” for Fiorentina” data-scaytid=”4″>Fiorentina and laughed off links with Milan.
The two sides come face-to-face on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Vincenzo Montella warned Udinese are “a tough opponent” for Fiorentina and laughed off links with Milan.
The two sides come face-to-face on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“We need to evaluate Borja Valero and Mati Fernandez for their fitness levels, while Rafal Wolski and Manuel Pasqual both trained. I hope they can take part in the game,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“We have faced Udinese many times and they’ve got a good mix between talented youngsters and quality little old men. They are a tough opponent to face in general, even more so against us because they have players who can cause huge problems with their pace on the counter-attack.”
Yet Udinese are making the trip to Florence without Antonio Di Natale, Maicosuel, Gianpiero Pinzi and Maurizio Domizzi.
Fiorentina are also missing key players like Giuseppe Rossi, Mario Gomez, Juan Manuel Vargas, Ante Rebic and the suspended Stefan Savic.
“Will Alessandro Matri start? You’ll see tomorrow. It is a difficult time for him and I am evaluating many different aspects.
“This team was formed in a certain way, but we don’t have the coverage to replace Juan Cuadrado on the right in a 3-5-2. So when players are out of action, I have to change system. To be honest, I don’t like doing that, but a team must have a system that gets the best out of the characteristics of its players.
“Compared to our usual standards, we are struggling to score goals at the moment. We managed to keep a clean sheet last Sunday against Sampdoria, so that was already an improvement.
“Our objective now is to find that clear head that we had before, working towards the Coppa Italia Final. We need the next few games to help me understand how we should approach the Final.
“I would like to know next year how we can do with Rossi and Gomez available. I am not trying to hide behind their injuries as an excuse, but they are players who can turn a game. We do miss them.”
Montella was asked whether Cuadrado will be put on the transfer market, as links with Juventus and Bayern Munich continue.
“I have to get the best out of him for Fiorentina now and hope he’s here next season too. It all depends on the objectives.”
Finally, Montella was asked about rumours he is being courted for the Milan job next season.
“You've got to be kidding.”