Pressurising PSV is key for Fiorentina

ACF Fiorentina will go into their UEFA Cup quarter-final against PSV Eindhoven with instructions to repeat the high-tempo performance that helped them get past Everton FC in the last round.

Pressing game
That was the message from coach Cesare Prandelli who, aware of PSV's technical quality, will urge his players to allow the Dutch team no time on the ball. "We produced a great home display against Everton and that shows that if we play with such exuberance and movement off the ball we can make life difficult for them. We're in a top physical condition and we can cause them problems with our pressing game."

'Have to be aggressive'
After beating Everton 2-0 in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, Fiorentina suffered their first defeat in the competition when losing by the same scoreline in the return, prior to prevailing on penalties. Citing the example of that second game, Prandelli added: "There is a difference in terms of the experience and technical quality of the teams. We have to try to play a bit like Everton did in Liverpool. PSV play a kind of total football, so we'll have to be very aggressive."

'No catenaccio'
Fiorentina have won their last four home matches in the UEFA Cup yet they were held 1-1 here by another Eredivisie side, FC Groningen, in the first round before winning the tie on penalties. PSV coach Sef Vergoossen admits he would be happy with another draw against opponents whom he describes as a "more complete team" than their last-16 rivals Tottenham Hotspur FC. "Nil-nil would be a good result," said the Dutchman, who earned a goalless draw at AS Roma while coach of Belgian club KRC Genk in the 2002/03 UEFA Champions League. "They are a side who can play in different ways," he said of Fiorentina. "They are strong in midfield and get forward in support of the attack. They can play football, there's no catenaccio style."

Prandelli wary
PSV's away form has been good so far in the competition, with victories recorded at both Helsingborgs IF and Tottenham, though they have never won in Italy – losing on six of eight previous visits including 2-0 at FC Internazionale Milano in this term's UEFA Champions League group stage. Moreover, the Dutch league leaders' recent results have been less than eye-catching with Saturday's 0-0 draw at NEC Nijmegen their fifth Eredivisie game without a win. Yet Prandelli remains wary of the threat they pose, citing their tactical flexibility and also the quality of individuals like striker Jefferson Farfán. "They have three or four players who always look for the one-on-one. We have to watch them in possession because of their ability to break suddenly."

Fitness doubts
While PSV travelled without the injured Ismaïl Aissati and will make a late decision on the availability of left-back Alcides, whose knee problem may mean a start for Slobodan Rajković, Prandelli promised last-minute decisions on defenders Tomáš Ujfaluši (achilles) and Alessandro Gamberini (hamstring). The latter has missed Fiorentina's last three Serie A matches, including Sunday's 3-1 loss at Udinese Calcio, and if he fails a fitness test Dario Dainelli will take his place in what is the Viola's first European quarter-final in eleven years.