Florenzi: We need to step up another gear in 2019

The club vice-captain believes the side showed signs of improvement as they ended 2018 with back-to-back victories – but knows there is still plenty of work to be done if the side is to achieve its aims for the campaign.

“We finished 2018 on the right foot,” Florenzi told Mediaset. “We know that we can – and we must – do better; from now on we need to find consistency and deliver more positive results.

“We need to find that consistency as a group, that’s the foundation we always have to build upon – it can help us in any tough moment. Our aim must be to keep winning, as a team, because alone you can’t win matches.”

Still fighting to finish in the top four in Serie A, the Giallorossi also have the resumption of the Champions League and Coppa Italia – Eusebio Di Francesco’s side host Virtus Entella in the last-16 on Monday – to look forward to.

“The Coppa Italia could be a key target for us,” Florenzi acknowledged.

“Of course, we hope to repeat the amazing run we had in the Champions League last season, trying to do even better – even if we know it will not be easy.”

He added: “I don’t think that we have lacked fight or determination, just watching training will show you that.

"Perhaps at times we have come up short in certain ways – not taking enough shots on goal is not just a problem with the attack, but with the whole build-up. We’ve also at times lacked the ability to keep a clean sheet, which again is something everyone has to take responsibility for.

"So in that regard we need to try and rediscover the organisation and unity we had last season.”