Fiorentina director Daniele Prade admits they tend to be ‘either really good or really bad’ ahead of the Coppa Italia semi-final with Atalanta. ‘This club is in the ascendant.’
It kicks off at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
A Rolando Mandragora screamer from 30 yards sealed the first leg on April 3, so the Viola have a 1-0 advantage going into this clash.
Whoever wins the tie will meet Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final on May 15, but also guarantee their participation in the 2024-25 edition of the expanded Supercoppa Italiana Final Four.
“This is going to be a sporting battle against a strong team in great shape, so we are trying to throw everything we’ve got into this,” Prade told Sport Mediaset when asked about the all-attack formation chosen by Vincenzo Italiano.
“Reaching the Coppa Italia Final is an important and wonderful moment for all clubs, whereas in the past it was perhaps snubbed a little bit.
“It is not easy to make predictions. This is a great objective and the lads know that we would love to achieve it. The approach is fundamental, but Atalanta will also immediately come out all guns blazing.
“We are an unpredictable team who either do really well or really badly. We hope it is really well this evening.”
Andrea Belotti starts upfront and nobody can doubt his work ethic, but he is yet to really make an impact on the scoresheet.
“It’s true that the striker has to score goals, but Belotti is a player who gives courage and enthusiasm to his teammates, he always steps up and makes an impact, so we are pleased with Il Gallo.”
Fiorentina reached the Final of the Coppa Italia and Conference League last season, but emerged empty-handed.
Italiano is widely expected to move on at the end of the season, while the Viola are also shaking up their directorial roles with Nicolas Burdisso leaving.
These sides were meant to meet in Serie A here on March 17, but it was called off when Fiorentina director Joe Barone collapsed in the team hotel, dying two days later in hospital. That fixture has still not been rescheduled.
“Considering everything that happened, we cannot look to the future, but to the present. The future is now. We are in the semi-final of the Coppa Italia and the Conference League,” added Prade.
“Naturally, like all clubs, we already have some plans for next season. Fortunately, this is a club that is in the ascendant, many players and coaches want to come here and are impressed with what we’ve done so far.”