Juventus have not hidden their desire to win the Italian Cup this season. Despite facing AS Monaco in a Champions League quarter-final next week and closing in on a fourth consecutive Serie A title, the Bianconeri are seemingly determined to end a drought in the competition that stretches back a staggering twenty years.
Indeed, that 1995 side � with Marcello Lippi in his first year as coach � saw Roberto Baggio playing alongside Gianluca Vialli as they defeated Gianfranco Zola�s Parma to complete only the second of two domestic doubles in the club�s history.
�It�s been a long time since we won the Coppa Italia,� coach Max Allegri said in a Q&A session with fans last week. �We can overturn the first leg and will give our all to secure the trophy!� To do so the Old Lady need to not only beat Fiorentina by two clear goals, but somehow subdue a man who is perhaps the peninsula�s most in-form star: Mohamed Salah .
On loan from Chelsea, the Egyptian has been sensational since arriving in Serie A. His blend of skill, pace and deadly accuracy in front of goal have made him seem like an entirely different player than the one who struggled to adapt to the demands of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. Stepping into the void left by Juan Cuadrado, Salah has quickly ensured the Viola faithful have not missed the Colombian, consistently wowing supporters and inspiring the team to win after win.
Indeed, Vincenzo Montella�s side have lost just once with the 22-year-old in the line-up, and his contribution across those 12 matches is undeniable. His impact has helped lift them from being outside the European places to the brink of the top three, and it is difficult to envisage him playing anywhere else in the near future.
The Viola have the option to extend his loan for a further twelve months and are believed to have agreed a buyout clause of �16 million for a player who seems only too happy to remain with the club for as long as possible after being marginalised in England. �I want to do well in Florence and win here,� Salah said at his first press conference after agreeing terms with the Italian side. �I have no intention of returning to Chelsea. I spoke to them and expressed my intention to undertake a new adventure.�
It is one he has instantly enjoyed, finding the back of the net seven times and adding two assists in 813 minutes of action, meaning he has scored or created a goal every 90 minutes he has been on the field. They have been significant efforts too: following a strike against Sassuolo in his first start for the club, Salah went on to notch goals against Tottenham, Inter and those two precious efforts that put Fiorentina in the box seat against Juventus tonight.
The first of those was incredible, the former Basel star collecting the ball in his own half, slicing through the Bianconeri defence at ease and then smashing the ball past helpless goalkeeper Marco Storari. His latest effort � a wonderful strike against Sampdoria on Saturday � was not too dissimilar to that opening goal against the Turin giants, and sealed all three points for the home side in a crucial clash between two teams chasing third place and the coveted Champions League berth that comes with it.
Easily beating the first two defenders, he outmuscled a third before hammering a right-footed shot into the roof of the net, prompting the latest chorus of � Siam venuti fin qua per vedere segnare Salah! � � we came to see Salah score � from the Stadio Artemio Franchi crowd . With a place in the Coppa Italia just ninety minutes away and a Europa League quarter-final to look forward to next week, they have had plenty of reasons to sing recently.
Tonight those supporters will hope their Egyptian flyer will once again give them the opportunity to break out that chant in his honour and carry them past their most bitter rivals. If he does, Salah will not only further cement his place in Viola folklore, he will also undoubtedly underline the feeling that allowing him to leave west London was a huge error in judgement.
