Before the match against Hellas Verona, Genoa coach Alberto Gilardino spoke to Sky Sport. Here are his words ahead of the Marassi match (kick-off at 18:30).
You saw the enthusiasm of the fans, the desire to get the first home win after the draw with Inter. Can the goal of reaching the first place in the standings, waiting for Juventus, be an extra motivation for the team?
“There are many motivations and ambitions for this match. We know it won’t be easy, Verona is a tough opponent, used to fighting for survival. However, we are ready to show our value at home. I trust in the boys, both those who will start and those who will come off the bench. We must be positive and confident”.
On the eve of the match you spoke of an incomplete but compact and “ferocious” team, as we saw in the first two matchdays. Last year, after the sale of Dragusin in January, Genoa paradoxically conceded fewer goals despite not having a replacement for him. Will it be even more difficult this year, without a pair of attackers like Gudmundsson and Retegui?
“The team is the one that has to make the difference, as it has shown in the first two games. We rely on our values, on the compactness of the group, on the ability to interpret each game at its best. And we will do the same today”.
A great striker doesn’t necessarily guarantee an offensive game, yet you always field two strikers plus Messias, like last year with Gudmundsson. What is the advantage of playing with an extra striker in a football that is usually conservative, especially among mid-table teams?
“I like to work on the principles of the game, regardless of the players available. It is clear that having a player like Messias, who can give me a hand in the defensive phase in midfield and then become an offensive weapon when we attack, or like Vitinha in support of Pinamonti, offers me different tactical solutions. I like to vary the concepts of the game, both in the construction phase and in the defensive phase. The characteristics of the players make the difference, as do the evaluations made during training. It is the players, with their individual qualities, who create numerical superiority, who target the man, who create goal opportunities”.
You found Pinamonti again, apart from the goal on his debut, it’s not a detail to be overlooked.
“Andrea is very motivated, he has a great desire to demonstrate his worth and is full of enthusiasm. We are holding on to Pinamonti di Monza and I hope he can have a great season with us”.