Raffaele Palladino believes Yacine Adli will have ‘extra motivation’ to prove himself against parent club Milan tonight, while Fiorentina are still seeking their tactical balance.
It kicks off at the Stadio Artemio Franchi at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
The Viola began their Conference League campaign on Thursday with a 2-0 win over The New Saints, though it confirmed their difficulty in converting chances into goals.
They have played two wins, six draws and a 3-2 defeat to Atalanta, as the Euro play-off was decided by a penalty shoot-out against Puskas Akademia.
There are several changes this evening, such as Dodo and Robin Gosens as the attacking full-backs, plus Adli facing his parent club.
The midfielder is on loan at €1.5m with an option to buy for a further €10.5m and had started in the Conference League midweek.
“Since Yacine arrived, he has worked really well to improve his fitness levels, as he had barely played and couldn’t handle 90 minutes. We tried to use the Conference League game to get minutes in his legs and he was able to prove his quality,” Palladino told DAZN.
“He has a lot of technique, can move the ball around, and of course he’s an ex-Milan player so there is extra motivation for him to do well this evening.”
Palladino still finding his Fiorentina
Andrea Colpani moved to Fiorentina after he was effectively launched onto the Serie A scene by Palladino at Monza, but seems to be struggling to find his role in Tuscany.
“Andrea works hard and is the first to be aware that he’s not showing his full quality, the kind I saw over two years at Monza. He just needs that spark, an assist or a goal, to break the ice,” confessed the coach.
“There are times when he’ll be out wide, others when he must cut inside, he needs to work out the best spaces where he can hurt Milan.”
Palladino has adjusted his tactics several times since arriving at Fiorentina, but he doesn’t like to discuss whether he is using three or four at the back.
“We are trying to find our tactical balance, the team is playing well and aside from having three or four at the back, it’s about when you are in possession and when you are defending. It’s about rotating, occupying the spaces, but what I do want to see is more pace moving the ball around.”
