Fiorentina vs AC Milan preview - No regrets for Bacca - 7M sport

Fiorentina vs AC Milan preview - No regrets for Bacca



Posted Saturday, August 22, 2015 by PA

New AC Milan signing Carlos Bacca has no regrets about missing out on Champions League football this season with Sevilla and is excited at making his Serie A debut at Fiorentina on Sunday.

Milan are not the powerhouse they once were and finished 10th in the standings last season despite not playing in European competition.

However, the Rossoneri have strengthened their squad by signing 12 players this summer, among them Bacca, in the hope of contending for the Scudetto.

The Colombia international, coming off two impressive seasons at Sevilla where he finished as the club's top scorer, said on the club's official website: "The difference between Milan and Sevilla is that my previous club was good but my current club is a top one.

"It's true that I turned down the opportunity to play in the Champions League with Sevilla but only for a year.

"I've done so as I've got the great opportunity to win the Scudetto with Milan and return to play in the Champions League.

"I want to adapt as soon as possible to Italian football. I want to do well but the main aim is the victory of the group."

Milan replaced Filippo Inzaghi at the helm with former Sampdoria boss Sinisa Mihajlovic.

Bacca , who helped Sevilla clinch back-to-back Europa League titles, says it has been easy to adapt to playing for a new coach.

"Mihajlovic is like (Sevilla coach Unai) Emery, he is really specific about details and prepares the games really well," he said.

With French striker Jeremy Menez sidelined with a back injury for a month, Bacca is expected to start in attack alongside Brazil's Luiz Adriano, who joined the Rossoneri this summer from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Unlike Milan, Fiorentina will play in the Europa League this season after finishing fourth in Serie A.

The Viola sacked Vincenzo Montella at the end of the season and appointed Paulo Sousa as his replacement.

The 44-year-old Portuguese had led Basle to the Swiss Super League title last season before accepting the Fiorentina job.

Fiorentina, who beat Barcelona and Chelsea in pre-season games earlier this summer, are aiming for a top-four finish again.

"That is our ambition although we know it's going to be difficult," Fiorentina's Spanish midfielder Borja Valero said. "We hope to again finish higher than the Milan clubs this season.

"We expect a stern test against Milan on Sunday.

"The Rossoneri have signed many important players.

"Bacca is strong and talented but we will have to wait and see how they gel together."

Fiorentina failed to keep Chelsea forward Mohamed Salah on loan for another season, with the Egyptian international moving instead to Roma for the 2015-16 campaign.

Moreover, they also lost Mario Gomez, David Pizarro and Juan Vargas this summer but the good news for the Fiorentina fans is the recovery of Italian striker Giuseppe Rossi after a long-term injury.

Rossi has recovered from a knee problem that saw him ruled out for last season and could feature against Milan on Sunday.

The hosts, who beat Milan 2-1 in Florence in March, are without Argentinian defender Facundo Roncaglia, who is suspended.



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