Football
Ben Gladwell, Italy correspondent 10y

Mario Gomez needs a goal, says Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has defended forward Mario Gomez after he again drew a blank in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Genoa.

Gomez, criticised for his recent display in Germany's friendly defeat to Argentina, is still searching for his first goal of the campaign.

The 29-year-old missed several opportunities to open his account before being substituted by Montella after less than an hour.

"He just needs a goal," the coach told Gazzetta dello Sport. "It didn't come today, so it will have to come next time, but we all have faith in him. I'm not worried in the slightest -- we just have to look forward."

With Giuseppe Rossi sidelined until the new year, there is growing pressure on Gomez to find his form, but Montella said he felt the chances would keep coming because the team's performances were good.

"I think we played a great game, particularly in terms of the players' attitude," he explained. "All we got wrong was the most important thing, which is not being able to take the clear-cut chances we created. But our attitude was right and our ideas also, so I'm satisfied from this point of view."

The coach said he also believed there was more to come from Juan Cuadrado, who made his first start of the season after speculation surrounding his future ended when the transfer window closed two weeks ago.

"Juan's a lad who plays to enjoy himself and now his mind is fresh again," Montella explained.  "He went through a period of confusion, but you can no longer really see that in him now. He played another great game today."

^ Back to Top ^