Football Season Guide

After an array of mediocre campaigns, the arrival of coach Montella at the helm of the team in 2012 brought Fiorentina the play and the enthusiasm needed in order for them to make it back among the top teams of the Serie A. However, to tell the truth, his experience turned out not to be a completely positive one, in the end, as the Tuscans’ results were less bright than expected. In fact, despite some triumphal transfer campaigns, they failed achieving the so-much-yearned-for qualification to the Champions League, finishing on the fourth standing for three times in a row. Sometimes by a few inches. So, Montella was let go and the management opted for former-Basel Paulo Sousa as his replacement. The departure of the coach was followed by that of some important players like Neto, who refused to extend his deal with the club, Salah, who preferred moving to Roma, Savic, who joined Atletico Madrid for cash, and, last-but-not-least, Gomez, who never managed to score the loads of goals he was expected to. For sure, one of the most painful departure was represented by Pizarro’s return to Chile as, for a long time, he was the guiding light in the middle of the park. To this moment, Fiorentina made just one major investment, on Mario Suarez, who is expected to become a leader, together with Badelj, in front of the defence in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Sepe, who had a positive season in Empoli, could be preferred to Tatarusanu in goals. In the defence, Gilberto could be the alternative to Tomovic at right-back with Astori, whose past season at Roma was forgettable, as a candidate to the heart of the defence, alongside Rodriguez. Alonso and Pasqual should still be competing at left-back. Returning Vecino and Borja could also be considered as the holding midfielders. The latter, Joaquin, Mati Fernandez and Ilicic might be the attacking midfielders acting to support the lone striker, who is going to be one among Babacar, Bernardeschi and Rossi, who is expected back after an array of serious knee injuries.