Although both success and disappoint characterized 2008 for the Viola, hopes are high for the Florence team’s year as it continues in the Uefa cup and Scudetto campaigns and keeps an eye on the Champions League next season. Here is a summary of news from the Viola locker room.
MUTU. Viola striker Adrian Mutu, who celebrated his 30th birthday over the Christmas break, suffered another injury in his appearance on the pitch against Lecce, during the disapointing 2-1 loss on January 11. The Romanian forward dislocated his elbow for the second time, and doctors have ruled him out of play for at least a month. The Italian sports critics recently named the Mutu-Gilardino pair-up the most formidable in the Serie A this season, yet with this recent re-injury, coach Cesare Prandelli admitted that he may use the January transfer window to look for an new striker to accompany Gilardino on the pitch.
UEFA CUP. A header by Gilardino in the 66th minute against Steaua Bucharest on December 10 was enough to secure a Uefa Cup spot for the Fiorentina. The stakes were high for the Romanians, who needed to beat the Viola to pass through to the Uefa cup tourney. The Fiorentina needed just one point to finish Group F in third place and claim a spot in the Uefa. The victory in Bucharest secured them three points. The Viola’s next UEFA cup match is against Ajax in Amsterdam on February 18.
THE TRANSFER ZONE. The winter transfer window opened on January 7. Six Viola players are looking to be transferred: forward Giampaolo Pazzini, forward Papa Waigo, midfielder Franco Semioli, defender Manuel Pasqual, forward Pablo Daniel Osvaldo and defender Manuel Da Costa. None of these players have yet made a deal with another club. Local sports media initially suggested that the wheeling and dealing would likely occur at the end of the month; however, Mutu’s latest injury may mean significant changes to the Viola’s transfer plans.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. Although the Viola missed its chance this year to assert itself in the Champions League, the team has a very good chance of making a return appearance next year. Former Italy and Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi recently told La Repubblica that he believes the Fiorentina have come out of their early season slump and are on the way to securing a place in next season’s Champions League. ‘It’s fundamental that Fiorentina qualify for the Champions League in terms of their growth, and I think they can conquer fourth place’, the former coach said. Although Sacchi excludes a Scudetto win this season, he thinks the Viola are headed to Serie A glory in the near future: ‘Fiorentina have returned to playing some beautiful football and they have a valid project … However, the Viola shouldn’t rush. They must continue to build and if they carry on like this, then it will not be long before they win the Scudetto’, he added. As of January 12, Fiorentina have 32 points and are in sixth place (alongside Genoa) in Italy’s Serie A.
COPPA ITALIA. A disappointing defeat on December 17 against Torino crushed the Viola’s Coppa Italia hopes. Playing one of their worst games at Franchi stadium this season, the bitter 1-0 loss against a mediocre Torino was a bitter pill to swallow. The Viola performance was lackluster and the players were seemingly uninterested in a win. The loss meant an automatic disqualification from the Coppa Italia tourney for the Fiorentina. Torino goes to the quarterfinals.
GOLDEN BOOT. Boasting 12 goals and 24 points in Italy’s Serie A, top Viola goal-scorer Gilardino is in the running for Europe’s prestigious Golden Boot award. Hoping to follow in Luca Toni’s footsteps, ‘Gila’ currently sits in seventh place in the standings. His rivals include Salzburg’s Marc Janko, Hoffenheim’s Vedad Ibisevic, Brasilian Vanger Love, Barcelona’s Samuel Eto’o, Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka and Rapid Wien’s Stefan Maierhofer.
