Is Fiorentina a top tier club?
After 15 games played in the Serie A 2013/2014 season, some questions must be asked as to whether Fiorentina may have set the bar too high after a sublime summer transfer market. The impression is that Montella’s team isn’t quite as competitive as it had been depicted by the national press, and still has to finish growing in order to become a top tier club.
Of course, it must be said that Mario Gómez was the main acquisition in the summer, and the German is yet to return following his injury and so has failed to make an impact this season. But many other ‘new faces’, such as Iličić, Matos, Joaquín and Vecino among others, have yet to prove they are a valid alternative to Montella’s starting eleven.
What has objectively been seen in the last few games (including the home victory against Verona) is that Fiorentina often concentrates more on over-play and effect than the final result, which we all know is everything in football. Moreover, some players haven’t been as brilliant as on other occasions: the team cannot always depend on the goals provided by Giuseppe Rossi, and it becomes even more complicated if key players such as Juan Cuadrado and Borja Valero are having a ‘bad day’.
Before the Christmas break, Montella will have to work on the team’s mentality and character in order to strike two victories against Bologna (at home on December 15) and Sassuolo (away on December 22).
Return of the Lion King
Results aside, it hasn’t been all ‘doom and gloom’ for Fiorentina lately. In fact, Florence recently had the chance to welcome ‘home’ one of the greatest idols of Fiorentina fans: Gabriel Omar Batistuta. The Argentinian was present at the FIGC Hall of Fame event in the Palazzo Vecchio, and also had a chance to return to the Artemio Franchi stadium and see the Viola team win versus Verona. ‘Bati’ also spoke about a potential role within the club, and said that he is ‘ready to embrace the club’s cause’, and then added, ‘I won a scudetto [championship] in Rome, but my heart and life are still with Fiorentina.’ A clear signal to the Della Valle family, who could use a leading figure like Batistuta to garner greater international appeal.
