Borja: Patient game serves Fiorentina well

ACF Fiorentina's Borja Valero reflected on "a magnificent night" after the Viola stunned AS Roma 3-0 in the Italian capital to book a place in Friday's UEFA Europa League quarter-final draw.

"The team played well and deserved this," said the Spanish midfielder. "Now we have to continue on this path in the league because we want to do well in every competition. We want to qualify for the UEFA Champions League and we want to reach the Coppa Italia final."

Three goals in 14 first-half minutes did the damage, defenders Gonzalo Rodríguez, Marcos Alonso and José Maria Basanta finding the net to seal a 4-1 aggregate triumph. It meant an enjoyable return for coach Vincenzo Montella to a stadium he knows well from his playing days.

The season is certainly bubbling along nicely for the Viola, who are fifth in Serie A and lead Juventus 2-1 halfway through the Coppa Italia semi-finals – a far cry from their autumn travails. "We knew we had to remain calm at the beginning of the season when results were not so good," said Borja.

"Now we are playing well and earning good results, I hope the fans are happy with what we are doing." They will be if this continues.