Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has ambitiously suggested that his troops can aim for the Scudetto in the coming season. It now seems to be the common trend in Italy to come out with such an outlandish statement, after all it was only a week or so ago that Palermo coach walter Zenga boasted that this club had the same goal. Whether he believed this, or just said it to appease a new set of fans that saw his former side, and bitter rivals Catania, stuff them beyond all expected proportions last season remains to be seen. However, one thing is for certain, and that is that Prandelli's side are now more equipt than ever to mount a more credible challenge. Yes, they have just lost midfield lynch pin Felipe Melo to a bitter and far better assembled rival in Juventus but the 21 million received will be more than enough to find someone capable of filling the void. Indeed, Melo's role may not be so crucial to the viola next season as Prandelli said in the dying embers of last season that figuring how to incorporate talented forward Jovetic into a team that include Mutu and Gilardino would be one of his first tasks for the summer.
Is the team up to the task?
On the face of it yes. They have a starting 11 that on its best day can beat anyone in the league. The 4-1 home win against Roma showed how far they have come as a team in the last season alone, and they will need to make this jump again if they are to overcome Juve, Milan and Inter, teams that they did not beat last season, if they are to win the Scudetto. Players like Kuzmanovic, Montolivo and Vargas are beginning to show their quality and are delivering at key moments. Indeed, Montolivio was one of only a few bright lights for Italy at this summers confederations cup. Depth also is beginning to get deeper, with Lecce striker Jose Castillo signed to the club yesterday and Valencia hitman Fernando Morientes said to be on the way.
The defence arguably though needs greater depth, although Gamberini and Danielli are one of the best defensive partnerships in the league and Vargas really began to explode towards the end of last season. The right back position with Comotto in place is arguably not as strong, and explains why they have been trying to poach Lazio youth product Lorenzo De Silvestri this summer. However, they do posses one of the worlds best goalkeepers in Sebastien Frey. Frey has been magnificent between the sticks in Florence for some time now and does not get the recognition that he deserves. Often last season he was the difference between a defeat and a win.
Scudetto target too ambitious?
They have the ability to do it, but not at the moment the depth to do so whilst focusing on three competitions especially when they want to get out of the Champions League group stages and progress further in the competition. The key for them now will be to see who they add to the squad in the coming weeks. If they can build on their defence and add a quality midfielder then they can certainly close the gap on Inter from the 16 point deficit that became them last season. The problem for them though is that everyone else is getting stronger also, Napoli, Genoa, and Palermo for example, but I guess in the end this will also be a problem for Inter, Juve and Milan also.
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