Author: Chris Fuller

If we’ve learned anything during this story, it’s that life is never dull at Fiorentina. That has certainly been true in my third season as manager. After disappointingly early exits from both the Europa League and the Coppa Italia, we could yet finish the campaign on a high.

A late-season winning streak has left the Viola on the cusp of guaranteeing qualification for the Champions League and extending my stay in Florence. There’s even a chance that we could overhaul what was once a huge lead for Inter and snatch the Serie A scudetto from their grasp. That said, we’ll almost certainly need to beat them at the Artemio Franchi to stand a chance of achieving the improbable.

So, without further ado, let me take you through the final four games of the league season, starting with a potentially troublesome visit to Atalanta…

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 32” →

The 2020/2021 season is almost over, and after some excellent results, I’m now more confident than ever that Fiorentina can qualify for the Champions League. If we can keep up our form in April, there’s no reason why we can’t secure a top-four finish before a tricky run-in May.

We will start off this month with a couple of difficult fixtures against Napoli and SPAL, though we should have it in us to beat Palermo and Chievo on home soil in the next two. Mind you, we’ll have to deliver the goods without one of our main men…

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 31” →

A premature exit from both cups means that Fiorentina have just Serie A left to aim for as we come to the business end of the 2020/2021 season. That might actually prove helpful, giving us plenty of time to prepare for each match while our top-four rivals have their eyes on other prizes.

Today’s chapter will see us go through four matches in February, and another two in March. The last of them is against none other than our greatest foes Juventus, who appear to be coming back into some form after a shaky first half to the campaign.

We must start, though, by announcing that one of Fiorentina’s first-team players has been sold late in the winter transfer windows. He wasn’t one of our key men by any stretch, but he will be missed.

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 30” →

Another new year has been chimed in, and it could be my last in Fiorentina. With 18 games to go in the Serie A season, it’s still anyone’s guess as to whether we can hold on to a Champions League place, and thus convince me to continue this purple project for a bit longer.

There will be some major spoilers in this part, you’re not yet up to date with “Shades of Deep Purple”, please read up on Part 28 before continuing.

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 29” →

IT’S CHRISTMAAAAAAAAAAS! Well… almost.

Yes, it’s that wonderful time of year when everybody writes their festive wishes to Father Christmas – or just order their gifts off Amazon, depending on their age. That’s true both in real life and in this story, where the faint sound of sleigh bells ushers us into December 2020.

Have we been nice enough to get what we really want – a Europa League knockout place, and a strong chance of finishing in Serie A’s top four? Or will naughtiness be our downfall, meaning we end up with nothing bar yet another novelty jumper? We’ll find out soon enough, but first, there’s a very early Christmas present that needs unwrapping…

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 28” →

I’m a very happy manager right now. It looks like this third season might be the one where my Fiorentina team finally click into gear. We’re flying in Serie A, our Europa League campaign is going swimmingly, and we’ve been strong at both ends of the pitch.

What, then, could possibly go wrong in November?

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 27” →

Another busy month is in store for Fiorentina. The Viola will play seven matches in October 2020, including a couple of home fixtures in the Europa League. If we can overcome Malmö and then Slavia Prague, qualification for the knockout rounds should be a formality.

When it comes to Serie A, we will end the month with successive matches against Roma, Juventus AND Napoli. Those are three daunting games which could potentially make or break our early push for a top-four finish.

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 26” →

And they said it wouldn’t last! “Shades of Deep Purple” today celebrates its 25th birthday (of sorts), which means it can now theoretically run for the US House of Representatives, as well as say hello from the other side.

This story has already had more tales of heartbreak than your average Adele album, but things are now looking up. Today’s chapter sees us attempt to continue an encouraging start to the new Serie A season as we roll into September 2020 (which, coincidentally, is when Adele’s next LP “29” will be released. Probably).

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 25” →

A new season is about to begin at Fiorentina. After some significant improvements in the transfer market, and some very positive results in pre-season, I feel like we’re ready to launch a strong – and sustained – push for those Champions League places.

Today’s post will include an updated squad and tactics report, as well as the opening three matches of our 2020/2021 Serie A season. The Europa League Group Stage draw is also due to take place, so we’ll soon find out who we’ll share our Thursday nights with for the foreseeable future.

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 24” →

After a short break from Football Manager 2019, I’m now back in the swing of things with Fiorentina. After two 6th-place finishes in a row, my third season at the Artemio Franchi really is make-or-break. Either we end our long wait to return to the Champions League, or I end my Viola tenure in disappointment and return to England.

The summer of 2020 has seen plenty of upheaval with regards to the playing and backroom staff. I’ve not left a single stone unturned as I look to take this great club back where it truly belongs.

Continue reading “Shades of Deep Purple: Part 23” →