Fiorentina 0-1 Frosinone: Recap and player grades

Pre-match

Fiorentina got Federico Chiesa back from injury, so hopes were high at the Franchi. Aside from Vincent Laurini at rightback and Kevin Mirallas on the wing, it was more or less the usual XI. Marco Baroni sprung a couple of mild surprises in starting Luca Valzania and Marcello Trotta, but it was about what we expected. Also of note: former Viola centerback (and seventh-best defender in Serie A) Per Krøldrup was in attendance, as was Vincenzo Montella.

First half

Fiorentina were disastrous, got outplayed despite missing two sitters, and were lucky not be be behind at the break after conceding several chances from set pieces. The midfield wasn’t there. The defense was scrambled. The attack was invisible.

Second half

Fiorentina were disastrous, got outplayed despite Chiesa hitting a magical drive that crashed against the upright, and were rightly punished late by Daniele Ciofani, who took advantage of lackadaisical marking to spank home a goal. The midfield wasn’t there. The defense was scrambled. The attack was invisible.

Post-match

This team is obviously checked out. Everyone knows that Stefano Pioli is done. Everyone knows that there’s going to be a firesale at the end of the year. The Coppa Italia is still in play, but Serie A is, for all intents and purposes, finished for the Viola, who are on pace for their worst finish since 2011-2012. With 7 league matches left to play, all they’ve got is aiming to break the record for most draws in a season with 20 teams in the table, which is 18. And knowing this club, they won’t even manage that.

Pioli has proposed a retreat to refocus the team, but let’s not kid ourselves: the players know what we know, and we know that it’s over. Finished. Kaput. Fabula est acta. All that’s left is to ring down the curtain on this abject failure of a year and the talent stampede out of Florence in the summer.

Player grades

F. All of them. Every single one. Simply terrible.