Fiorentina coach Beppe Iachini looks forward to having Franck Ribery back in April as he prepares for what could “feel like a training” against Udinese.

The match will be played behind closed doors at the Dacia Arena in Udine and the Viola coach has admitted from previous experience that it takes some of the edge away from the players.

Fiorentina coach Beppe Iachini looks forward to having Franck Ribery back in April as he prepares for what could “feel like a training” against Udinese.

The match will be played behind closed doors at the Dacia Arena in Udine and the Viola coach has admitted from previous experience that it takes some of the edge away from the players.

“It happened to me both as a player and as a coach,” he said at a press conference. “It’s a different game and it’s difficult to find the rhythm. It seems more like a training than a game, there’s not the right tension that comes to you from the outside.

“That’s something we must recreate to overcome this gap. It’s a bad thing, the beauty of football is also the participation from the supporters. But everyone’s health comes before this.”

The Viola posted a video of Ribery kicking a ball last week and he has stepped up his recovery, reportedly to return within a month.

Iachini revealed that the French winger could be the missing piece of the puzzle to play a 4-3-3 formation with his new team.

“I never had Ribery,” Iachini said. “I have always had the predisposition to create something different, but only in the best condition of the effects I would be able to do it.”

But as he prepares for the game against the Friuli, Iachini wanted to focus on his own side, claiming that he only studies the opponent in case he gets asked about them.

“We know what their characteristics are. We saw them during the week, and we must try to stop them from crossing the ball,” Iachini said. “Sometimes we recoil a little and it doesn’t have to be what we want.

“We are working to gain 20-30 metres of the pitch with personality. In a few days we have been together for two months, now we must add bricks to this house we are building.

“I only think about my team, I just analyse the characteristics of the team if I am asked. The speed of execution and getting away from the marking will give us a possibility to move.

“We are growing, we are on a good path and we still have a few players who are recovering. We look forward with confidence, on the pitch I would like to have an organised team, capable of improving the lines of passage.

“Everyone needs to be available. Not just [Federico] Chiesa, but many players are improving physically.”

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