Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano has conceded that his team displayed excessive deference towards Juventus, resulting in a profound sense of frustration following their third consecutive 1-0 defeat in Turin.
The Viola once again showcased familiar shortcomings, dominating possession without capitalizing on scoring opportunities and succumbing to a goal from a set-piece, as Federico Gatti capitalized on a rebound from Gleison Bremer’s header against the far post.
Subsequent substitutions of Maxime Lopez and Riccardo Sottil at halftime appeared to alter Fiorentina’s approach significantly.
Italiano remarked, “We exhibited an excessive level of deference towards Juventus in the first half, displaying timidity. Consequently, we sought to inject dynamism into our performance with the introduction of Maxime Lopez and Beltran, aiming to bolster the team’s focal point.”
He continued, “I believe we succeeded in doing so, as evidenced by our creation of numerous promising opportunities. However, we paid the price for our lackluster first-half display, during which we struggled to penetrate their penalty area.”
Italiano lamented missed opportunities, notably Nico Gonzalez’s near-equalizer thwarted by Wojciech Szczesny’s exceptional save, as well as Lucas Beltran’s blocked shot by teammate M’Bala Nzola.
Reflecting on Fiorentina’s recurring struggles against Juventus, Italiano emphasized the need for clinical finishing in the final third, attributing their defeat to a deficiency in seizing scoring opportunities.
He suggested, “Perhaps we must diversify our attacking movements to unsettle defensively resolute opponents. Additionally, we must capitalize on the individual brilliance of players such as Nico Gonzalez, Sottil, Kouame, and Belotti to secure positive results.”
Despite the setback, Italiano expressed determination to rectify Fiorentina’s Serie A form and maintain momentum heading into the Europa Conference League quarter-final against Viktoria Plzen.
Addressing concerns regarding squad rotation, Italiano defended his decisions as strategic measures necessitated by player fatigue and injury concerns rather than detrimental to team cohesion.
He asserted, “I don’t believe rotation is the underlying issue. Our defeats often hinge on minor details rather than squad selection. Moreover, involving all players across various competitions is a testament to our collective strength and bodes well for our continued success.”