Rodriguez under the radar

[elena brown]

In new weeks, much continues to be manufactured – and quite rightly so – of Fiorentina’s lack of strength in depth which has contributed to their downturn in form. Paulo Sousa’s team have lost three out of their last five league games with their only victories coming against Chievo Verona and Palermo.This problem was never more apparent than at San Siro on Sunday, an abject performance seeing a previously inconsistent Milan take all three points with ease. The Viola dominated possession with a 68.8% share, but in reality most of this was amassed through slow innocuous passing through the midfield and the team never really looked like scoring.Gaping holes in the defence led to goals from Carlos Bacca and Kevin-Prince Boateng, but to the Fiorentina supporters high in the stands at the famous old stadium, it was obvious there was something else clearly lacking from their team: leadership.Captain Gonzalo Rodriguez received a one match suspension after having been booked in the previous game versus Lazio, and it was abundantly clear that the team sorely missed his influence in the heart of the defence.The 31 year old Argentine arrived in Florence in 2012 along with Villarreal team mate Borja Valero. The pair have had an immeasurable impact since their arrival, and whilst Valero – rejuvenated beneath the coaching of Paulo Sousa – is widely recognised for being the embodiment of the Viola’s possession based attack, the contribution of Rodriguez tends to slip under the radar.Now in his fourth season, he has made 114 appearances and scored an incredible tally of nineteen goals while the raw statistics highlight his importance to the side. Averaging four clearances and 1.3 tackles per game so far this term, Rodriguez also leads all Fiorentina players in two further categories, making 2.6 interceptions and winning 1.8 aerial duels per outing.Despite the sale of central defensive partner Stefan Savic to Atletico Madrid in the summer, he continues to hold the backline together, something perhaps best highlighted in his absence. On Sunday, the three-man fifa 16 crediti ps 3 combination of Nenad Tomovic, Facundo Roncaglia and Davide Astori were lucky that their fragility was only exposed twice, none of the trio able to transmit the assured calm of Gonzalo.It was a similar story in in 2014/15 when Fiorentina lost four of the eight games he missed, a cruel blow considering the team finished just five points short of qualifying for the Champion’s League. Although quietly spoken away from soccer, his strong leadership on the pitch manufactured him fifa coins the only choice when – after a lack of playing time for previous captain Manuel Pasqual – Paulo Sousa appointed him as a replacement back in November.His obvious quality in defence and his commanding presence are not the only attributes he brings to the team. He scored a total of seven goals last season – the same tally as striker Khouma Babacar – which included a crucial header in a narrow 2-1 home victory to Milan at the end of the campaign.This term has seen him find the net twice, including a delicate backheel from a Matias Fernandez free kick in the 4-1 home win over Frosinone, but the man himself is quick to credit the new boss with improving upon the work of his predecessor. “Sousa has continued [Vincenzo] Montella’s ideas” Rodriguez told Tuttosport. “But he has added more grit to the team, especially in defence.”Against Milan last week, there was no sign of this ‘grit’ and it is clear that, alongside Valero, the Argentinian forms the backbone of the Viola defence and midfield. As the team changes around them, it is vital that these key players are retained and as both are now settled with family in the city, it now seems unlikely that either would want to leave.Holding onto Gonzalo is only half the battle. As the game against Milan perfectly highlighted, Fiorentina must now strengthen the defence around him in order to get their season back on track.Think you know your Italian football? Share your knowledge, tips and comments to win cash prizes in OLBG's tipster competition - £5,000 monthly. check it