FIORENTINA BOSS VINCENZO Montella has suggested that Mohamed Salah is only bested for pace with the ball at his feet by Barcelona ace Lionel Messi.
The Egyptian attacker put in another devastating performance for the Viola as they defeated Roma 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico to storm into the last eight of the Europa League at the expense of Rudi Garcia’s men, with a 60-yard solo run (see above) among the highlights.
It was the latest in a string of stellar performances from the Egyptian, who had barely featured for Chelsea in the first half of the season and was given to Fiorentina along with an estimated €33.4 million in exchange for winger Juan Cuadrado.
Montella compared Salah — whom Fiorentina can make a permanent signing this summer — to Messi and admits even he has been shocked at how strong his impact has been.
“Maybe right now we have got the better deal,” he told Mediaset Premium when asked if Fiorentina were the winners in their money-plus Salah deal for Cuadrado. “For now, we have benefited.
“We knew the superb characteristics of the player, but we did not expect him to have such an impact on Italian football. Perhaps only Messi is faster than him with the ball at one’s feet.”
Thursday’s triumph over Roma represents the second time in the past couple of months that Fiorentina have eliminated the capital club from a cup competition — having dumped them out of the Coppa Italia — and Montella is revelling at having turned the tables.
“Until January I had never won against Roma, today I find myself commenting on the second win,” he mused. “This success is deserved, my team have grown a lot in terms of mentality.
“The team has proven to have a great desire is winning. We endured a terrible run of form earlier this season, but we got through it; there might be another like that, though we will fight to achieve our goals.
“All victories require a small dose of luck, even though one makes their own luck to win.”
Fiorentina will hope to continue their charge on the top three — they are four points off Lazio, who currently occupy the last Champions League spot — when they travel to Udinese on Sunday.
