Gosens: ‘Fiorentina face very different type of pressure’ in relegation battle
Robin Gosens admits Fiorentina are dealing with ‘a very different type of pressure’ in the relegation battle with Cremonese, so ‘mentality is everything’ in tonight’s showdown.
It kicks off at the Stadio Giovanni Zini at 19.45 GMT (20.45 CET).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
This result could well decide who stays up and who drops into Serie B this summer, because going into this game Fiorentina are in 17th place on 25 points and Cremonese are in the drop zone in 18th on 24 points.
At the same time, the Tuscans are also forced to think about the Conference League Round of 16, after beating Rakow 2-1 on Thursday, they will visit Poland this week for the second leg.
Gosens warning for Fiorentina
“When you have to fight against relegation, the match plan works to a certain extent, but then mentality is everything,” Gosens told DAZN Italia.
“It’s a very different type of pressure to the one we had last season, for example, when we had other objectives.
“We want to be aggressive at the right time and clear-headed when unexpected things happen. We are coming off an important Conference League win that gave us enthusiasm, so we are ready.”
Fiorentina have also shifted their tactics recently to a four-man defence, and that means a different role for ex-Atalanta and Inter wing-back Gosens now that he is a full-back.
“I am a full-back who likes to attack, because those are my characteristics, but it’s very different in a four-man defence, as I don’t get to attack the back post in quite the same way.
“The important thing is that I have got my fitness levels back, which is absolutely fundamental for a player with my style of football. I am happy the coach chose me today and want to repay that faith.”
The change also means that Fabiano Parisi moves into a more advanced role for Fiorentina as part of a supporting quartet behind centre-forward Roberto Piccoli.
“Fabiano is having a great season, he put himself at the disposal of the coach and doing a good job in this position,” concluded Gosens.