Vanoli says Fiorentina’s defensive shape is not enough: 10 goals conceded while organised

Fiorentina have conceded 14 goals in six Serie A games, and Paolo Vanoli says 10 arrived when his side had already regained its defensive shape. For the coach, that points to passivity rather than a choice between attacking and defending—and gives his 19th-placed team an urgent problem to address before Como visit on Sunday, 18 October.

Being in position, Vanoli’s warning suggests, is not the same as controlling an opponent’s attack. A defence can occupy its planned spaces but still give the ball-carrier time, allow opponents to receive between the lines or fail to react when the ball moves. The key, then, is how players shift together: one steps out, another provides cover, and others track runners.

The opening goal in Fiorentina’s recent match at Genoa offers a clear example of the issues. As described by Violanews, Tino Anjorin’s backheel set up Stephan El Shaarawy for a shot from outside the area. David de Gea saved it, but the rebound fell back into the danger area and Armando Osmajic finished close range. The sequence exposed problems both before the shot and after the save: insufficient pressure on the shooter, a weak response to the rebound and a failure to track the available attacker.

That is why Vanoli’s figure matters. A goalkeeper’s save does not end the defensive task; players still need to find opponents, protect space and react quickly. Violanews also points to Billy Gilmour’s goal for Napoli, when the midfielder was left alone in the middle of the area from a set piece. The outlet notes that Fiorentina’s second goal conceded at Genoa raised related concerns about pressure on the crosser and protection in the box, but it cannot automatically be counted among the 10 goals Vanoli classified as coming against an organised defence.

Vanoli has also backed Massimiliano Allegri’s defence of defensive football. “There are different ways to defend: in Spain, you defend with the ball; here, without it,” he said. His point is not to abandon possession: Fiorentina must use the ball to defend, while avoiding technical errors. In his view, recent seasons have left the team caught between approaches instead of committing properly to either phase.

Fiorentina have Serie A’s third-worst defensive record, ahead of only Venezia and Monza in goals conceded, and sit on four points from six matches. Although only one of the league’s first six rounds ended 0-0, a high-scoring start does not make these lapses less costly. Vanoli’s challenge is to add urgency and coordination without losing the possession and attacking play he wants his team to use as part of its defence.