Gilardino strikes fresh note of optimism

Whenever Alberto Gilardino scores he gets down on one knee and pretends to play the violin. Since joining ACF Fiorentina this summer after three seasons with AC Milan, he has been playing his own sweet music – his three goals in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, for Italy and on his Serie A debut for the Viola against Juventus last weekend vindicating the 26-year-old's decision to team up again with former coach Cesare Prandelli. 

High hopes
"Prandelli's teams play well," Gilardino told uefa.com. "He gets his ideas across very well, especially to the strikers, but not only to us. He communicates well with the whole team. We all have to play our part, and I have to make sure I hit form to keep the goals coming – lots of goals." Prandelli, who also coached Gilardino at Parma FC between 2002 and 2004, is not the only reason the striker went to Fiorentina. "The decision was partly down to myself, partly down to the club and partly down to the coach who wanted me here," he said. "The club has great desire and a great set of supporters. I want to play regularly again and to score regularly. That's why I came here."

'Ambitious club'
Part of the Italy side that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2004 and the FIFA World Cup two years later, Gilardino was disappointed with how his spell with the Rossoneri ended. "I was criticised and my ability was called into question on several occasions, but I think the figures speak for themselves," he said. "In three years I scored almost 50 goals and I won three trophies like everyone else there. I gave my all, just like every other player. Obviously, I had hoped to stay there as long as possible and try to put down roots, but it didn't turn out like that. So I've moved and I think this is a good move because Fiorentina are a very ambitious club, with a huge desire to win."

'Great achievement'
Indeed, last term the Tuscan club finished fourth in Serie A, just ahead of Milan. Gilardino wants more of the same. "Fiorentina's main aim is to try to continue doing what they did so well last season," added the Azzurri forward, whose strike rate at Parma was 50 goals in 96 top-flight outings. "We have to try to achieve what we did last year. To finish in the top four again would be a great achievement."

European goal
After defeating SK Slavia Praha in the third qualifying round, Fiorentina were drawn in UEFA Champions League Group F alongside Olympique Lyonnais, FC Bayern München and FC Steaua Bucureşti. Gilardino, who lifted the trophy in 2007 with Milan, hopes his experience can prove useful to his new team-mates. "The Champions League is very, very difficult," he said. "You play against organised sides, so it will be very tough for us. But we're preparing ourselves to have a good season, both in the league and in the Champions League, and we hope to make our supporters as happy as possible." If Gilardino continues as he has started, they will long be dancing to his tune.