Paulo Sousa's Fiorentina are
being credited as potential challengers for the Serie A title
after going solo at the top of Serie A thanks to a 3-0 home win
over Atalanta on Sunday.
The Florence side have 18 points from seven games, two
more than Inter Milan, who went into the weekend joint top but
slipped to second after being held 1-1 at Sampdoria.
Sousa was given a cool reception from fans in the summer
when brought in to replace Vincenzo Montella, who led the
Florence club to three consecutive fourth-place finishes but was
sacked after relations with management broke down.
The much-travelled Sousa's CV was not particularly
impressive, having coached Basel, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Queens Park
Rangers, Swansea City and Leicester City.
But he has turned them into a pleasant-to-watch side that
seems to have more of a ruthless streak than they did under
Montella when it comes to taking chances, with Croatia's Nikola
Kalinic leading the way with four league goals so far.
Sousa, a former Portugal midfielder who won the Champions
League with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund as a player, has said
he is aiming to keep Fiorentina in the chase for what would be
only their third scudetto.
And respected figures such as Italy's 2006 World
Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi and current Azzurri boss
Antonio Conte think he may be able to do that.
"Yes, they are a young, well-trained side," Lippi told the
Radio2 station when asked if Fiorentina can stay among the Serie
A pacesetters.
"And enthusiasm can work miracles in some cases.
"I like Fiorentina, they have a nice group of youngsters,
a young coach and directors who keep the club on its toes.
"I had Sousa as a player (at Juve). I used to speak often
about attacking the opposition's midfield and Paulo has taken
this into account.
"His teams are aggressive and they have a clear idea of
how to play".
Lippi also stressed, however, that Sousa was building on
foundations laid by Montella.
"The capacity to pass the ball around is the fruit of
three years of work by Montella," he said.
Conte agreed.
"Fiorentina are the real surprise of the season so far,"
he told reporters.
"It's an example of how an organised club, work and
well-prepared players and coaches can do wonderful things.
"Let's hope it continues".
Lazio are third in Serie A with 15 points thanks to a 2-0
home win over promoted Frosinone.
Their city rivals AS Roma are fourth with 14 points thanks
to a 4-2 victory at Palermo.
Champions Juventus notched their first home win in Serie A
this term, coming from behind to beat Bologna 3-1.
The win lifts them to 12th with eight points.
AC Milan coach Sinisa Mihajlovic said he had no intention
of quitting after his side's poor start to the season continued
with a 4-0 thrashing at home from sixth-placed Napoli.
"I'll certainly get a phone call from (owner Silvio)
Berlusconi," the Serb, who took over Milan in the closed season,
told reporters when asked about the possibility of him getting
the sack.
"That is a decision the club has to make. I'm not
quitting. I'll never quit. I have to think about what's the best
way to emerge from this bad moment".
Milan are 11th in Serie A with nine points from seven
games.
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