What Fiorentina’s extended possession at the back means

I expected pretty much every possession number to scream that Raffaele Palladino’s Fiorentina has less of the ball, and that’s not entirely the case. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as it offers control and allows guys to rest during play, but it’s a bad thing for a team that’s relying on counters. Taking extra touches in the defensive third means that the ball’s not going forward, which in turn means that opponents have time to drop into their block. However, my confidence there takes a hit when I compare Fiorentina’s possession numbers to the league as a whole. No, I think this is more about a team that’s still trying to figure out how to adapt its play to its manager’s demands.