Last season was one of extensive misfortune - injuries, refereeing decisions, missed chances - and some stretches of poor play for Fiorentina, but thanks to a talented and committed core group and moments of individual brilliance la Viola were able to comfortably retain fourth place. Not only did the Florentine club not backslide after their breakout first season under Vincenzo Montella, but they were also able to perform quite commendably across their three fronts, reaching the final of the Coppa Italia, and falling to archrivals Juventus in the Europa League Round of 16 after their only defeat in the whole competition.
2014-2015 Serie A preview: Fiorentina just might take third this time
Juan Cuadrado is still at the club, Mario Gomez is healthy and Giuseppe Rossi just might play most of the season. With Vincenzo Montella still in charge, will the viola manage to slip into the Champions League?
Gabriele Maltinti
ACF Fiorentina:Florence, Tuscany Last season: 4th, Europa League group stages clinched via Coppa Italia FinalCoach: Vincenzo Montella
The objectives for this season are clear, and similar to those of last season: compete for Champions League while aiming to win a trophy. Conditions seem favorable for Fiorentina to push for the 3rd place berth, with the Milan clubs still looking weak, Napoli having a very odd mercato, and Juventus suddenly unsettled by the departure of Antonio Conte. It certainly won't be easy though, with that raft of clubs as well as Roma and Lazio looking to occupy the top spots.
Fiorentina were able to retain their core contributors across the field - most importantly Juan Cuadrado, fresh from a fantastic World Cup - and the club can this year expect to have healthy and firing for much of the season one of the most exciting attacking tridents in all Europe, comprised of Mario Gomez, Giuseppe Rossi, and the same Cuadrado. Fiorentina have also supplemented their often blunt attacking depth with talented Primavera youth Khouma Babacar and Federico Bernardeschi, both fresh off of barnstorming loan spells in Serie B and exciting preseasons.
The problem areas in Montella's roster remain the same as the end of last season, unless the club can pull two low-cost signings out a hat in the final week of the mercato. Defensive midfield and wide areas remain positions of concern, as the players in those roles do not seem to be at the height of the rest of the squad (although young Australian pickup Joshua Brillante looks like he may have something to immediately contribute the first team). Marko Marin's addition is befuddling, as the one thing Fiorentina's roster does NOT lack is a creative and technical midfielder, and la Viola already have to thin the squad quite a bit before the beginning of the season.
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More from our team sites
Key Player
Mario Gomez.
The German bomber has looked good in preseason, maybe a bit slow still, but scoring buckets of goals regardless as he now nears peak physical condition. He was Fiorentina’s top scorer in preseason, and as important as Pepito Rossi is, Gomez is Fiorentina’s big money signing whose unveiling filled the stadium a year ago; it is his turn to carry the load and let others play with freedom. Plus, from a purely technical perspective, he is invaluable to the team’s system of play, giving the possession “dance” that Montella Style weaves a top class spearhead.
Key Departures and Arrivals
Out: Ante Rebic (loan to RB Leipzig), Ryder Matos (loan to Cordoba), Matias Vecino (loan to Empoli)
In: Jose Maria Basanta (from Monterrey), Marko Marin (on loan from Chelsea), Joshua Brillante (from Newcastle Jets), Marcos Alonso (returned from Sunderland)
Reason to Watch
22 - 33 - 11. Those are the shirt numbers of Rossi, Gomez, and Cuadrado (respectively). Come on, that’s just a little bit cool right?
Where They Might Finish
Maybe (just maaaaybeeeee) 3rd. The viola have been ever-so-close to the last Champions League position for the past two seasons. Is this their year?
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