Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti describes Fiorentina as “a work of art” ahead of their game tomorrow.
The Giallorossi welcome Paulo Sousa’s side to Stadio Olimpico, in what could be a crucial match in terms of Champions League qualification. Click here for a match preview.
“What do I fear most about Fiorentina?” Spalletti considered in his pre-match Press conference.
Roma Coach Luciano Spalletti describes Fiorentina as “a work of art” ahead of their game tomorrow.
The Giallorossi welcome Paulo Sousa’s side to Stadio Olimpico, in what could be a crucial match in terms of Champions League qualification. Click here for a match preview.
“What do I fear most about Fiorentina?” Spalletti considered in his pre-match Press conference.
“What they’ve done in the last three or four years and have continued under Paulo Sousa. They’ve created a modern style of play, spectacular with a solid team who are tough, confident and have good ability.
“Looking at the little group of teams you’d say Fiorentina are in, they’ve done the best.
“Are they like Roma? A little bit, yes. Both try and command the game, have talented midfielders who like to get on the ball, and have the quality to read situations.
“They’re good at everything, knowing how to play with each other, switching from a back-three to a back-four. They can settle down and create traps for you based on how you play the game.
“We’ll have to be even better than usual tomorrow, but I have confidence in my players.
“If they’ve created a work of art in Florence, I believe my lads have painted a masterpiece in the last few games to reverse our situation.
“We have the mental strength to fight to the end.”
Fiorentina played Napoli on Monday night, having faced Tottenham in the Europa League last Thursday, but Spalletti doesn’t feel tiredness will be an issue.
“In a few days we’re travelling to play Real Madrid, who played yesterday, and I’m not going to say my players are more tired because I don’t want excuses.
“Matches are played when they have to be played, we just have to always be ready.
“We can’t go into the game thinking that we’ve rested for an extra day, and Fiorentina will know that too.”
The Coach was then asked whether he’d field Edin Dzeko, to give his side the option of going long to evade Fiorentina’s pressing game.
“I like that tactical situation, you’re attentive and I hadn’t thought about that,” Spalletti replied.
“We know they’ll come to press, and will change their attitude in response to our approach on the pitch.
“In Florence there was months of discussion over whether Fiorentina play three or four at the back. That’s where you see the skill of the Coach, he’s created an elastic team, changing their shape during their moves.
“They have these two talented midfielders in front of the defence, they have Borja Valero, [Federico] Bernardeschi, [Nikola] Kalinic, [Cristian] Tello, [Josip] Ilicic… they have so many good players.
“The solution you’ve offered is a valid one, we used it in the last-minute against Empoli and it brought us a few interesting chances.”