Rossi impressed with Fiorentina revolution

Former Fiorentina manager Delio Rossi believes the 'revolutionary' changes made by the Viola in playing personnel during the summer bodes well for the club's future.

Fiorentina were one of the most active clubs in the summer transfer market, making a total of 32 new signings, whilst selling 28 of their players from last season.

Rossi oversaw the Florence's club poor form in the Serie A last season; the Viola found themselves mired in a relegation dogfight for majority of the season, although they eventually finished 13th in the league.

Rossi, who replaced former manager Siniša Mihajlović in 2011, was removed from his post midway through the previous season after the former Palermo manager was involved in a shocking altercation on the sidelines with Serbian forward Adem Ljajić during a league game against Novara.

However, despite his less than glamorous exit from the club, Rossi claims he has bears no ill will towards the club and revealed a snippet of what went wrong during his time with Fiorentina.

Speaking to the Corriere dello Sport, Rossi said: "It was an intense and difficult six months in Florence, but I am indebted to the Fiorentina fans.

"Behaviour amongst certain members of the squad was childish.

"And when a Coach uses the carrot and stick approach, he must have a certain authority.

"It was not a bad group, but some people did not understand what it means to play for Fiorentina."

The 51-year-old, who revealed he is not averse to a return to the Viola, also reckons club owners Diego and Andrea Della Valle did the right thing during the summer by replacing majority of the team, although Ljajić himself was not one of those to leave the club.

"I believed, and still do believe, that Florence was the ideal place for me," Rossi added.

"Now what Fiorentina are doing is right - a total revolution. It is what we had agreed to do.

"Will I go back to Fiorentina? If it was up to me, I would still be there. I believe that can happen one day, partly because I left the team with such good memories."

Fiorentina have had a mixed start to their season so far under new coach Vincenzo Montella, running out 2-1 winners against Udinese in their opening Serie A fixture but falling to a loss by the same scoreline to Napoli and will hope to be able to bounce back with a victory when they host Catania in their next league game.