Much has been made of Tottenham’s make-or-break double-header this week – crucial back-to-back games against Fiorentina and Chelsea – yet for La Viola this is also a decisive moment of the season.
The same question has been levelled at both Mauricio Pochettino and Vincenzo Montella in recent weeks, before Thursday night’s meeting between the sides at Stadio Artemio Franchi: what is the best way of securing Champions League qualification this year: through the Premier League and Serie A respectively, or via success in the Europa League?
Each manager has responded diplomatically – that the next game is the most important, that both opportunities must be viewed equally. Yet it is a legitimate debate given the strains that a long run in Europe’s second tier tournament can have on a domestic campaign.
Pochettino has already conceded that his team selection this week could decide the fate of Spurs’ whole season. Similarly for Montella, a man whose stock in Italian football is currently high, this is a seminal period in his burgeoning managerial career.
L’aeroplanino - or “the little aeroplane”, as he was known – has yet to win a title as a coach, although his time with Catania in 2011/12 proved a major success – he led the Sicilian club to an 11th place finish – and Fiorentina have progressed under his stewardship. Last season the side were defeated in the final of the Coppa Italia by Napoli and finished fourth in Serie A, but there is a chance to improve this year.
Montella’s team currently sit fifth in the league, six points behind third, and face the leaders Juventus in the semi-final first leg of the Coppa Italia next Thursday. Fiorentina have everything to play for yet, like Tottenham, all avenues could be closed in a matter of days should their form dip. It would be a surprise, though, given that they are unbeaten in 10 matches.
Montella, the former Italy striker who made his name with Roma and enjoyed a brief stint in the Premier League with Fulham, arguably has the upper hand going into Thursday night’s game. Fiorentina were on the ropes after half an hour at White Hart Lane last week but the coach switched from a 3-5-1-1 formation to four at the back, a move that turned the tie in his side’s favour.
Fiorentina have the away goal and looked comfortable playing out the last 20 minutes in north London, with Spurs barely able to craft a scoring opportunity despite Harry Kane’s second-half introduction. “We need more concentration, the same intensity and bravery that we showed in London,” said Montella ahead of the second leg. “I think we need to be more clinical in front of goal with the last pass.” Asked if his side could play for a draw, given that 0-0 would allow Fiorentina to advance, he added: “We have to play to win the game, that’s in our characteristic.”
As a player Montella spent 10 years with the Giallorossi and earned 20 caps for the Azzurri, scoring three times including a memorable double at Elland Road during a 2-1 victory for Italy in the build-up for the 2002 World Cup, a tournament at which he earned a place in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad.
As a coach, he has already been linked with Rafa Benítez’s job at Napoli should the Spaniard depart, despite having yet to win a major piece of silverware.
Montella has shown a willingness to sign players with playing time in English football. Fiorentina’s squad has an abundance of Premier League experience, with Micah Richards and Mohamed Salah on loan from Manchester City and Chelsea respectively, while others include Marcos Alonso, Stefan Savic, Borja Valero and Alberto Aquilani.
Montella stated this was a coincidence rather than a specific plan, but on comparisons between English and Italian football, he said: “They are two different leagues, it is more tactical here and less physical compared to the Premier League, where there is more power, more physical characteristics on the pitch. In Italy we probably don’t show this same level in the 90 minutes but we have to control the game more over the 90 minutes.”
Spurs’ pace and width caused havoc for 30 minutes last week, yet Fiorentina’s subtle shift in approach turned things around. It promises to be another intriguing tussle between Montella and Pochettino on Thursday, two coaches whose seasons are finely poised.
