Bologna vs Fiorentina preview - Montella won't get carried away

Posted Tuesday, February 26, 2013 by PA

Fiorentina head coach Vincenzo Montella is urging his giddy players to remain grounded ahead of the rearranged Serie A game at Bologna.

La Viola snapped a run of four defeats from six games to dismiss Inter Milan 4-1 last time out and Montella's players are starting to think about Champions League football once again.

The rush of adrenaline faded slightly, however, as Sunday's trip to Bologna was pushed back two days due to heavy snow at the Renato Dall'Ara.

Montella is wary of a Rossoblu side who find themselves in 16th place despite leading the home goalscoring charts in the bottom half of the table with 22 goals.

He told La Repubblica: "The risk of getting carried away is there but we are going up against a team who do not deserve to be where they are.

"They have a great coach and an experienced team. They adapt well to their opponent and it will be a tricky game.

"Bologna will have hunger and desire to win against a Fiorentina side who arrive on the back of a fine win.

"But the plan is to take that winning mentality wherever we go, whether we're at home or away, and against all different types of opponent."

Montella reserved special praise for forwards Stevan Jovetic and Adem Ljajic who notched a brace apiece against the Nerazzurri last week.

"They're always dedicated to the cause and they're playing well," he added. "Jovetic will not just settle for the two goals he scored against Inter and I want to see the same attitude from Ljajic.

"They have the quality to be even more dangerous."

Midfielder David Pizarro serves a one-match ban while Matias Fernandez, Michele Camporese, Giuseppe Rossi and Ahmed Hegazi nurse injuries

"It's difficult to think about how I'll replace Pizarro," Montella added. "I'm not worried, though, because we have players with great technical quality in the middle of the park."

Bologna, meanwhile, are plotting to stay unbeaten at home in 2013 and pull away from the bottom three, but they will be without injured defenders Cesare Natali and Mikael Antonsson.