Coppa Italia

[Napoleon Solo]

11/12/07 19:30 Ascoli v AC Fiorentina 4.33 3.20 2.12
12/12/07 19:30 Cagliari v Sampdoria 2.70 3.10 3.05

Fiorentina take on Ascoli in the Coppa Italia tomorrow night and Coach Cesare Prandelli wants the Viola to get back on track.

The Viola have dropped out of the Scudetto race after defeats against Udinese and Palermo and seem to be in a slump.

They can take nothing for granted against Serie B outfit Ascoli who have already beaten Atalanta and Genoa – both 3-2 after extra time – in the Coppa.

“It’s a strange time and possibly quite a difficult one,” Prandelli admitted. “But this side has never let me down in adversity and we remain a united group.

“Sooner or later a dip in form had to come. Of course we want to do better, but I know that we gave our all in the last few games and things just didn’t go right.”

The Gigliati are facing a defensive shortage as Alessandro Gamberini added to an injury crisis by sustaining a muscular problem against Palermo.

“If you look at our injury statistics, we have had fewer than we had last year,” Prandelli claimed. “Unfortunately, they have all been to defenders.”

While Serie A’s giants often take the Coppa Italia lightly, Prandelli sees it as one of the season’s priorities.

“We want to progress in all competitions,” the former Parma man stressed.

“We have dropped some points in the League, but we are moving on in the UEFA Cup and the Coppa Italia. We need to limit the damage and get through against Ascoli using players who haven’t had that much time.”

Fiorentina are struggling to stay afloat amid an injury crisis after Alessandro Potenza is ruled out for a month and Alessandro Gamberini is also sidelined.

They had to play the final 22 minutes of last night’s 2-0 defeat at Palermo with 10 men because Gamberini limped off after all three substitutions had been completed.

It was their third defeat in four games and the pressure of playing in the UEFA Cup as well as Serie A is beginning to take its toll on their fitness levels.

Gamberini requires further tests, but the initial diagnosis of his muscular problem is not too serious.

There is worse news from Potenza, who has a suspected thigh strain and could well be out of action for a month.

Tomas Ujfalusi and Per Kroldrup also missed out on last night’s match due to injury, so Cesare Prandelli has precious few options ahead of their Coppa Italia encounter with Ascoli.

“We are paying the price for so many injuries among the defenders,” said Martin Jorgensen, who had to play as a makeshift full-back in Palermo.

“When you play so many games, it is tiring. We have to think positive. After all, it’s not as if we have suddenly become a poor team, we just need to give it a little more grit.”

Both from channel4.com - Football Italia