Another draw at final home game
On May 9, with nothing to lose and nothing to gain, the Fiorentina chose to begin the match without their main striker, Alberto Gilardino. Instead, two young strikers, Adem Ljajic and Keirisson, were in the starting line-up. Neither one had ever started a match since they arrival in Florence earlier this year. After three minutes of play, Siena slipped past the defense and scored a goal. Only 12 minutes later, right winger Marco Marchionni scored his sixth goal this season for the Fiorentina. In the second half, Gilardino took Keirisson’s place but was unsuccessful in scoring a goal. The match finished 1-1, leaving the Viola in tenth place in the Serie A ratings.
No disappointing the fans
After the last home game on May9, Fiorentina president Andrea Della Valle spoke to the press and commented on a five-minute video with highlights of the last five years, which was played on the screen above the Curva Ferrovia before the match. Della Valle said that fans should have faith because the club is creating a great group for next season. Without offering many details, he said that the team will not disappoint the fans: ‘Prandelli and Corvino will be here to create and develop the team.’
Montolivo is ‘one of us’
On May 11, Fiorentina midfielder and team captain Riccardo Montolivo received the ‘Uno di noi’ award from Viola fans in honor of his 2009-2010 season with the Fiorentina.
Gilardino improvements for next season
In an interview in Guerin Sportivo, the Fiorentina’s star striker Alberto Gilardino said that he hoped to work on his ability to score goals from a distance. He also discredited the rumor that he wants to be the only striker on the field. Instead, he said, he welcomes the opportunity to have three forwards like Inter. On May 13, for the release of his biography, Gila è uscito dal gruppo, Gilardino said that there is one chapter missing from the book: one about winning a championship or cup with the Fiorentina.
Viola players in the World Cup
Striker Gilardino and midfielder Montolivo have been chosen for the Italian national team for the World Cup in South Africa this summer. Defender Per Kroldrup will be playing with the Danish team and midfielder Mario Bolatti with the Argentinian team.
Season ends with a loss
For the Fiorentina’s final match of the season, on May 16 in Bari, head coach Prandelli put together a bold team of younger, less experienced players, among them Jovetic, Ljajic, Carraro and Agyei. Bari scored a goal in each half, and although the Viola tried their best, they were unable to score. The 2-0 loss dropped the Fiorentina to 11th place in the Serie A ratings, a disappointing result for a team that has been in fourth place for the last two years running.
