Genoa manager Daniele De Rossi faced the media in the antivigilia of his team's Serie A fixture against Fiorentina at the Stadio Franchi. The press conference covered a wide range of topics, from the psychological state of a team that has already secured its top-flight status to the historical anomaly of Genoa's record in Florence and the physical condition of his squad.
The Rossoblù secured their mathematical safety from relegation following a point earned at Atalanta and Cremonese's subsequent defeat. This achievement was swiftly followed by the announcement of De Rossi's contract renewal, a move that signals the club's commitment to a long-term project under the former Roma captain's leadership. De Rossi emphasized that the motivation for the remaining matches must come from within the players themselves. "The match for Genoa is always important," he stated. "A strong football player draws stimuli from what's inside him. We play many small-sided games in training. If we only played when we were afraid of failing, it would be serious."
A significant talking point was the remarkable statistic that Genoa has not won an away match against Fiorentina since 1977, a drought spanning nearly five decades. De Rossi acknowledged the singularity of this record, especially when juxtaposed with the club's recent successes at some of Italy's most formidable grounds. "It's a strange thing because recently Genoa has won at the homes of Juventus and Inter," he remarked. He indicated he would share this fact with his players, framing it as an additional layer of context for the performance, rather than a source of pressure.
Regarding the team's overall development, De Rossi offered a positive assessment. He highlighted a growth in the team's tactical interpretation of the game, singling out young forward Ekhator as a prime example of a player who has matured significantly in his approach to training. "He trains like a great player now, whereas before more like a young player integrated into the first team," De Rossi explained. However, he was quick to praise the work ethic instilled by the previous coaching staff, noting that the team's intensity has been consistently high throughout the season. "The only thing that has improved is the league table," he added, underscoring the solid foundation he inherited.
The coach provided concrete updates on player availability, confirming several absences for the trip to Florence. Winger Junior Messias has seen his season ended by injury, a blow given De Rossi's description of him as "the strongest player we have" and a key dressing room reference, despite his physical fragility. Defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy will also be unavailable. There was more cautious news regarding attacking midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi, who has returned to full training but will not be risked. "I don't want to bring him because I want to give him more training," De Rossi stated. "The match is important but not decisive for us, and I want him to be at 100%. If it were a match decisive for survival, I would have played him from the start."
De Rossi also touched upon his relationship with Fiorentina manager Paolo Vanoli, describing him as a friend and a person for whom he holds great esteem. He reflected on the shared experience of leading two historic clubs with passionate fanbases, stating, "We have found two great realities, two beautiful cities, and it is right that they are in Serie A."
Looking ahead to the match itself, De Rossi confirmed that young defender Mattia Zatterstrom will be in the starting lineup. He addressed questions about his tactical formation, dismissing rigid adherence to a back four by pointing to the fluid nature of modern football and the need for strategic flexibility based on the specific game plan.
Finally, De Rossi spoke about the atmosphere surrounding the club and the enthusiasm of the players to continue their journey in Genoa. He attributed this sentiment not to his own influence but to the unique environment of the city and its supporters. "Genoa is a fantastic city and at the stadium there is a great atmosphere when you enter the field," he concluded, setting the stage for a challenging but motivationally complex encounter against Fiorentina.
Based on reporting from Tuttosport.com - Calcio.
