Montella urges Fiorentina to entertain

Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella has set out a mission statement for his team to entertain the fans.

Montella took over the reins at the club following successful spells at Roma and Catania.

The 38-year-old has been charged with bringing enthusiasm back to the Stadio Franchi after a few lacklustre seasons for the Florence club. Fiorentina went through a major overhaul in the off-season and Montella said he is a happy to be a part of it.

“Great work has been done here and I must admit I feel privileged to be here,” Montella told La Repubblica newspaper.

“Here we want to play football and entertain the fans. This is a brand new side with players from different experiences and cultures. The sooner we integrate all those elements, the earlier we can start showing what we can do.”

“I will admit every now and then I am tempted to take off my suit and run on to the pitch. It is a thought that flashes through my mind in a heartbeat, but it is still there. Then I remember I haven’t the lungs anymore and it ends there.”

The ex-Sampdoria striker also responded to Dimitar Berbatov’s decision to abandon a move to Fiorentina while mid-flight, first negotiating with Juventus before settling on a move to Fulham.

“Berbatov? He made the wrong decision. I would ask Juve for an explanation as to what happened that day, but maybe I wouldn’t. I like my Fiorentina the way it is,” he said.