New Fiorentina coach Sinisa Mihajlovic has set his sights on qualification for Europe's top club competition.
``We always have to aim for the Champions League, every season, as I feel we are capable of it,'' the Serbian said on Friday. ``I know what is expected of me and what I have to achieve here.''
Fiorentina announced Mihajlovic's hiring on Thursday, after the club's coach Cesare Prandelli was chosen to take over from Marcello Lippi as Italy coach after the World Cup.
Previously, Mihajlovic was assistant to Roberto Mancini at Inter before coaching Bologna and Catania.
``I am confident in my ability and I want to continue the work that Prandelli has done,'' Mihajlovic said, ``I chose Fiorentina because Fiorentina is a great club with a good team. Here I have the chance to improve the players and they are ambitious like me.
``Fiorentina will always play to win,'' Mihajlovic said. ``I have always played to win; over 20 years as a player and when I was a coach with Bologna and Catania.''
Fiorentina reached the first knockout round of the Champions League before losing to this year's losing finalist Bayern Munich.
The club finished 11th in the league this year and so missed out on European competition next season.
Mihajlovic will be without team captain Adrian Mutu, who is suspended for doping offenses, until Oct. 29.
In 2003, the Serbian received an eight-month ban from UEFA for kicking and spitting at Mutu during a Champions League game, when the Romanian forward was with Chelsea.
``What happened, happened years ago and it was a mistake on my part, not on his,'' Mihajlovic said. ``He's an excellent player and he has a fiery personality, that is similar to mine.''
In Mutu's absence, much of the creative responsibility will fall on Stevan Jovetic. The Montenegrin has been with Fiorentina since 2008, scoring 19 goals in 52 matches.
``Jovetic is a good player and is becoming one of the best players around,'' Mihajlovic said. ``When we played Fiorentina at Catania we always spoke about Jovetic. He can play in the middle or wide on the left or right, depending on what system we are playing.''
Mihajlovic had a long career as a player in Serie A with Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter Milan. He helped Lazio win the 1998 UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1999 and the Italian league and cup double a year later. Prior to moving to Italy he won the European Cup with Red Star Belgrade in 1991.
He also played for Yugoslavia at the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championships.
