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| | Week 17 Spotlight: Jorgensen on song | Thursday 22 December, 2005 |
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 Player of the Week: Jorgensen (Fiorentina)
Martin Jorgensen helped maintain Fiorentina’s title challenge with a spectacular goal against Palermo last night to crown an excellent start to his season.
The former Udinese midfielder has scored four times already this term, confirming an impressive strike-rate of one goal in every four games for the Viola wide man.
The key to Fiorentina’s surprise success this season, apart from Luca Toni’s exceptional scoring feats, is their determination to dig deep as well as an enviable team spirit, which Jorgensen has typified with a series of tireless performances on the left flank.
Many questioned the 30-year-old’s decision to move to Florence in 2004, after six successful years at Udinese, and when the Gigliati only narrowly avoided relegation last season - while his former side qualified for the Champions League - it seemed that the cynics were right.
This season, though, Jorgensen and his Tuscan teammates have been reborn, in no small part thanks to the extraordinary influence of Coach Cesare Prandelli, who has succeeded in introducing no fewer than eight new players to the side and bedding them in immediately.
Unlike last season, Jorgensen’s awareness and ability to create chances is now being plundered by a striker, Toni, who can convert the supply into goals with his aerial ability and presence around the penalty area.
The Scandinavian winger has also developed an almost telepathic understanding with former Italy midfielder Stefano Fiore, whose ability to spot Jorgensen’s runs has also aided his renaissance.
Jorgensen’s Christmas will be a lot happier than last year’s. He has already scored more than he did in the whole of last season and is on course to beat his record haul of seven, which he managed in the 1999-2000 season.
Furthermore, if he maintains his consistency until the end of the season, he will be rewarded by his first experience of Champions League football next year.
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Goal of the Week: Vannucchi (Empoli)
His side may have been trounced 4-1 by Inter, but Igli Vannucchi won’t forget his side’s consolation goal in a hurry. On as a first-half substitute for Stefano Lucchini, the stylish midfielder unleashed an unstoppable shot to reduce Inter’s lead to 2-1 in the 64th minute. Collecting the ball some 20 metres out, the 28-year-old cracked a half-volley with his left foot straight into the top corner for his fourth goal of the season. |
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Number of the Week: 15
The number of goals David Trezeguet has plundered this season and the number of games in which he has scored them. His delightful one-touch lob over Siena goalkeeper Antonio Mirante was the ninth consecutive game in which the Frenchman has scored and helped consolidate his side’s eight-point lead in Serie A. Trezegol is now just one goal behind top goalscorer Luca Toni of Fiorentina. |
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| Words: Richard Aikman |
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