Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Fiorentina back Mario Gomez as drought continues

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has played down Mario Gomez's goal-scoring troubles, saying he was pleased with the player's efforts in the 3-0 win over Guingamp.

Germany forward Gomez failed to find the back of the net for the fourth game running in the Europa League victory on Thursday night. The player's frustration was evident, and he left the stadium via a back door to avoid the media.

Montella did not want to hear anything about a crisis, though, while the fans inside the Stadio Artemio Franchi did all they could to encourage the player in the midst of the drought.

"It's starting to become a problem having to justify every time Mario does not score," Montella said at the postmatch news conference. "There are another 30 players in this squad too, and he sacrifices himself a lot.

"It would have been worse if he had scored but we had not won this game. I'm sure he feels the same way. And besides, for me he is like a new signing considering he missed most of last season injured."

Gomez also drew encouragement from his teammates in the mixed zone at the Franchi.

"Gomez will get his goal sooner or later," said Jasmin Kurtic, whose cross Gomez missed by a matter of inches when Juan Vargas put the Viola in front. "We're all doing everything for the good of Fiorentina and the important thing is that the team do well, not whether Gomez scores or not."

Towards the end of another frustrating 90 minutes for the German, the fans began chanting his name, earning a thumbs-up in recognition. The 29-year-old also earned applause after another chance went begging late on, with the Fiorentina fans showing plenty of patience for a player whose last goal for the club came in March.

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