Viola ready for Milan litmus test

(GSM) – Fiorentina form reads three wins, two draws and five defeats in their last 10 Serie A fixtures, but when Milan turn up at the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Saturday, the Florence based giants will have to step up their performance.

And Viola wing-back Juan Manuel Vargas insists his team will not be afraid of high-flying Rossoneri’s visit.

After last weekend’s 2-1 loss at Chievo, Fiorentina slipped to ninth in the standings – four points behind Parma, who hold the last Champions League qualifying spot.

A defeat for the hosts could shatter confidence, as the race to fourth spot heats up.

However, Vargas is confident the hosts will more than hold their own against Leonardo’s side on Saturday.

The 26-year-old told La Nazione: “We know the quality of AC Milan, but we should not worry about the result.

“Fiorentina can do harm to anyone as we have demonstrated on several occasions. So we respect Milan but do not fear them.”

Vargas has been linked with a move away from Italy recently, with Real Madrid thought to be among the potential suitors.

But the Peru international claims he remains fully focused on the task in hand at Fiorentina.

“Today I am more calm. Maybe in the past few months I have grown, improved. I’m settled,” he said.

“My future? I do not like to look too far ahead. I prefer to live day by day.

“And for me, at this moment, there is only Fiorentina.

“Real? I know that certain rumours are circulating. But these are rumours and should be considered as such.”

Defender Alessandro Gamberini and midfield duo Cristiano Zanetti and Marco Marchionni will be unavailable to Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli due to injury.

Milan will be without defenders Thiago Silva, Massimo Oddo, Daniele Bonera and Oguchi Onyewu for the trip to Florence.

The Rossoneri saw their unbeaten streak in Serie A come to an end after almost three months in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Palermo.

The outcome left Milan second in the standings, five points behind city rivals Inter Milan after 16 games.

Tomorrow’s trip will evoke memories for Milan of the last game of last season – a match which saw Kaka and Paolo Maldini play their last appearances for the Rossoneri, who were under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti for the final time.

The visitors ran out 2-0 winners on that occasion, and defender Kakha Kaladze is confident his team are well placed to pick up another positive result although he is under no illusions as to the quality of ninth-placed Fiorentina.

The Georgia international told Corriere dello Sport: “Fiorentina have great desire to win and will not be easy because they are a great team.

“But Milan at this moment is the best team in the championship, both physically and psychologically.”