Genoa is Prandelli’s sole focus

(GSM) – Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli has insisted that his team will be only focused on Genoa’s visit and will not be distracted by Champions League qualification.

La Viola ended a nine-match winless run last weekend with an impressive 3-1 victory at Napoli, but they are 10th in Serie A and eight points off fourth placed Palermo.

A late surge last year saw Fiorentina sneak into the Champions League, pipping Saturday’s opponents Genoa thanks to a better head-to-head record, and Prandelli is looking for another successful run this campaign.

“I don’t want to talk about dreams for many reasons,” he said. “We’re playing for the three points and if we will be up there we will then be playing for something more important.

“We shouldn’t forget that, in the last few years, we have reached fourth place only on the last day.

“We’re facing a strong team who have been fighting for important aims. Last year they would have deserved fourth place like us.

“I’m trying to give the squad the desire and the feeling of fighting until the end for something important.

“The tensions are there, but we need the right ones, like at Napoli where we were in a position to find the result by playing well.”

Fiorentina have not been beaten in their past 11 home matches and, although they lost to Genoa earlier this season, are looking for their third consecutive victory over the Grifone at the Stadio Artemio Franchi.

Genoa midfielder Ivan Juric is keen to pick up the side’s first points in Florence as the season hots up.

He said: “When spring arrives it is the sign that you are going into the heated part of the season, that in which you pay dearly for errors.

“All teams at this point, although for different reasons, have very strong motivations.

“Things such as conditions or even luck can make the difference, there are always so many variables.

“It’s always lovely to go to Florence, one of the most beautiful cities in the world I’ve ever visited with my family.

“On the sporting front, however, I don’t have any good memories. Zero points until now.”

Genoa have four points more than Fiorentina but have a woeful away record, as they have just won two games away from the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Coach Gian Piero Gasperini insists revenge is not on the agenda in Florence, where last year’s 1-0 defeat cost them a place in the Champions League.

“We took a bit of revenge when we won earlier in the season,” he said. “Now what matters is the present and this trip. Having four points more than Fiorentina is something very important and a source of great pride.”

Dario Dainelli, Bosko Jankovic, Robert Acquafresca and Diego Polenta are all injured while captain Marco Rossi is suspended.

On-loan Inter Milan striker David Suazo will travel but is unlikely to start.

Fiorentina will be without the injured Alessandro Gamberini, Marco Marchionni and Juan Manuel Vargas, while Felipe is suspended.