Montella hails Salah's form

02 March 2015 02:02

Fiorentina clinched their first win at Inter Milan in 15 years on Sunday thanks in no small part to Mohamed Salah, whose inspired performance was lauded by club coach Vincenzo Montella.

Salah, who joined the Viola on loan from Chelsea during the winter transfer market, came on as a first-half substitute and scored the only goal of the match in the 55th minute.

The Egyptian winger had found the back of the net in Fiorentina's previous two games, including Thursday's 2-0 triumph over Tottenham in the Europa League.

"I wanted to make the most of Salah's extraordinary form that is why I chose him ahead of Alberto Gilardino," Montella told the Italian press. "I know that when a player is going through that kind of form, it's the duty of a coach to encourage it.

"I think he can play any position in attack.

"He attacks the space well and is very good at getting straight into the tempo of a game when coming off the bench."

Montella was also impressed by his team's overall performance, with injuries leaving his men to play the closing stages with nine men.

Fiorentina pair Nenad Tomovic and Stefan Savic could not finish the game and were stretchered off but the Viola still held on for their 11th win of the campaign.

"We won against Inter in a heroic manner," Montella said. "We were in numerical inferiority but there was great sacrifice shown by my team and for this, I believe this victory is well deserved.

"We are truly satisfied.

"For long periods we held the initiative against an Inter side that was in great shape.

"The team left the pitch like heroes, as everyone had to work hard."

Fiorentina are unbeaten since January 6 and travel to Turin to face Juventus in Thursday's first-leg semi-final of the Coppa Italia.

The Viola then take on Lazio four days later at the Stadio Olimpico knowing that a win could see them leapfrog the Romans into fourth in the standings.

Montella's side is fifth in Serie A, just one point adrift of Lazio.

Source: PA