«It’s time to put a strong stamp on this championship». Mister Alberto Gilardino loads his Genoa ahead of Monday evening’s match (8.45pm) against Cagliari at the “Ferraris”. A challenge that could provide salvation if the rossoblù were to take home the entire stakes and Udinese, playing at 3pm, were not to win. «We are facing a lively team – declared the coach in the press conference – mentally very strong given the latest results. A confident team that has found certainties and confirmations. He has certainly found a solidity through the coach and the team group which has allowed him at this point in the championship to be aware of their qualities. We must play a match of great competitive spirit, balance and order.”
As for the individuals, Vitinha is back and will be called up regularly even if «he doesn’t have 90 minutes but I think he can also be in the match. If there is a need, he is a player with different characteristics from those in the department I have. When he gets back to his best form, he can be very useful to the team.” The infirmary instead has Messias, Malinovskyi and Bani as well as the long-term patient Matturro: «We hope for Messias and Malinovskyi that there may be positive situations in the coming weeks. They were very long injuries. For Bani it is very long, I don’t know if we will recover it by the end of the championship. Matturro is having a fast recovery, it’s a pleasant surprise. It may be that he returns before two weeks.”
Mateo Retegui he has been chasing the goal for two months now while Albert Gudmundsson in recent matches he has been used between the attacking midfield and midfield. However, both have shown a great spirit of sacrifice: «It’s natural that they are two important players for this team but they have to demonstrate it every match because football asks this of you. It is a total requirement in matches to give responses of sacrifice and help to the team as well as being decisive in many situations. This is the contribution that I expect from them and which they have made in a positive way. They must continue to keep this mentality high. They are the most advanced of all, they are the first defenders and when they have the ball they must determine.”
In defense, De Winter could be confirmed at center: «I think Koni can work as a center back. Both Vogliacco and Vasquez at this moment, as I see it, can play the two laterals. Cittadini is definitely better and could be a pleasant surprise between now and the end of the championship. He has fully recovered and I hope he can find space between now and the end but he too is more of a winger than a centre-back.”
Chiosa su Claudio Ranieri: «He is a coach who reflects his way of being and his way of positioning himself on the bench. He is a person of great depth and this is reflected in the way he approaches the race. The team perceives this attitude and transforms it on the pitch. He achieved excellent results, he won. For me it is a source of pride and a source of great responsibility to be able to deal with a coach like that.”
