Daniele De Rossi elaborated on his team selection for Genoa’s upcoming clash against Juventus and shared his profound admiration for Luciano Spalletti. He stated, “Spalletti consistently updates himself with changes in football, ensuring he remains a modern coach.”
The match is scheduled to kick off at 5:00 PM UK time (6:00 PM CEST) at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin.
De Rossi Discusses Genoa’s Lineup Choices
Genoa headed into the international break following a home defeat to Udinese and will be without Brooke Norton-Cuffy, who sustained an injury with England’s Under-21 squad.
Regarding options for the left flank, Aaron Martin was chosen over Stefano Sabelli.
De Rossi explained his decision: “I prefer not to deploy left-footed players on the opposite flank. Martin is naturally suited to the left, and that’s where he’ll play. His mastery of set-pieces is a key asset in games like this, and his fitness levels have significantly improved recently.”
He further added, “The availability of five substitutions underscores the importance of a deep squad. However, I believe Juventus possesses an outstanding starting eleven and, alongside Como, currently showcases some of the best football in Italy.”
The upcoming match offers a touchline reunion for De Rossi with his former Roma coach, Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti once fondly referred to De Rossi as one of his ‘football sons’ who would eventually become a tactician.
“He taught me an immense amount,” De Rossi elaborated. “I had the privilege of working under him when I was quite young. He later returned to coaching, and I found him to be an even more accomplished coach than I remembered.”
De Rossi continued, “This highlights his constant desire to stay abreast of football’s evolving dynamics, to continue his personal development, and to maintain his status as a modern coach, irrespective of the passage of time.”
Their professional relationship was extensive, with De Rossi playing 251 competitive matches under Spalletti – more than under any other coach throughout his career.
During this period, the midfielder contributed significantly with 30 goals and 27 assists.