Italiano: ‘Fiorentina Can Reactivate Jovic Mentality’

Vincenzo Italiano is only half content with the Napoli draw and explains how Fiorentina will try to ‘reactivate’ Luka Jovic after his Real Madrid struggles.

There is clearly an issue with goals for the Viola, because between Serie A and the Conference League play-off with FC Twente, this was the third consecutive 0-0 result.

The best chances at the Stadio Franchi fell to Napoli, with Hirving Lozano’s free header wide at the back post and Pierluigi Gollini getting down for a great one-handed save on Giacomo Raspadori.

The positive is that Fiorentina are unbeaten at the end of Week 3 for the first time since 2013-14.

“It was a bit of a strange game, it was end to end stuff. We are trying to be more solid than last season and concede fewer goals, which so far is working,” Italiano told DAZN.

“We need to be more efficient in front of goal as once again we had five or six chances where we made the wrong choice or didn’t release the pass quickly enough.

“I’m happy that I can continue to rotate the squad and not see much difference in the overall performance.”

Jovic was a surprise signing from Real Madrid and the striker made this move to revitalise his career after failing to make an impact at the Bernabeu.

“Jovic needs to be reactivated in everything that involves being a football player, from physical fitness to mentality,” explained the coach.

“He has to understand that he is no longer playing with world class champions, he is at Fiorentina and that means sacrificing himself. There are moments when the team needs him to help out.

“In training, you can see glimpses of the quality he has, but ultimately it’s up to him as well to bring that out. Perhaps he isn’t too convinced he can be a centre-forward, but I believe he can do it.

“We’ve got to increase his self-belief, give him some chances to just put into the net, because he needs that switch to go in his mind that makes all the difference. When he does that, I am convinced we’ll see great things from Jovic.”