Paulo Sousa shrugged off questions about his Fiorentina future and challenges Vincenzo Montella’s Sampdoria.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“The victory over Samp earlier this season was the game that confirmed we were on the right track and gave a sense of consistency to what we’d worked on,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
Paulo Sousa shrugged off questions about his Fiorentina future and challenges Vincenzo Montella’s Sampdoria.
It kicks off on Sunday at 14.00 UK time (13.00 GMT), click here for a match preview.
“The victory over Samp earlier this season was the game that confirmed we were on the right track and gave a sense of consistency to what we’d worked on,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
Montella was at Fiorentina last season, but complained the club had been talking about Sousa for a while before he decided to walk away.
“I don’t think that’s true. I had no agreement with Fiorentina, though several clubs were interested in me when I was at Basel.
“Vincenzo started out putting his mark on the Sampdoria project with positive football similar to the kind he played in Florence. The results didn’t come, so he changed and the defence has improved a great deal.
“Samp are also improving their ability to control the ball with quality. I expect a game with many Blucerchiati players behind the ball, trying to win on the counter-attack.
“How do I expect Montella to be welcomed back here? In a polite and joyful manner for a Coach who did very well for Fiorentina. He gave his all for this jersey and it’s only right to give him a warm welcome. Since arriving here I’ve appreciated the positive style of football Vincenzo gave to the team.
“He has also given Antonio Cassano the right motivation after months in which he was no longer a protagonist. Cassano is one of the variables Montella could use tomorrow from the start.”
As for Sousa’s own future, the Portuguese tactician has no intention of discussing it.
“I don’t think I have to explain anything. I work with the utmost effort, giving all I have to make everyone happy. I have to focus only on my players and helping them improve all the time.
“We mustn’t have the anxiety of a potential defeat. We need the ambition to win every game, control anxiety and be more consistent.”