Daniele De Rossi elaborated on his tactical decisions for Genoa’s match against Juventus and expressed profound admiration for Luciano Spalletti, hailing him as a “modern coach” due to his continuous adaptation to football’s evolving landscape.
The match is set to kick off at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17:00 UK time (18:00 CEST).
De Rossi outlines Genoa decisions
Ahead of the Juventus clash, Genoa, having just returned from the international break following a home defeat to Udinese, faced a challenge with Brooke Norton-Cuffy sidelined due to an injury sustained with the England Under-21 squad. Addressing his lineup choices, particularly on the left flank where Aaron Martin was preferred over Stefano Sabelli, De Rossi explained his reasoning to Sky Sport Italia: “I avoid deploying left-footed players on the opposite flank; Martin is naturally suited to the left, and that’s where he’ll stay. We can often unlock matches with set pieces, and Martin is exceptionally skilled in that area, plus his fitness has significantly improved recently.” He further commented on the strength of their opponents, adding, “While having a deep squad is beneficial with five substitutions, I believe Juventus possesses an outstanding starting XI and, alongside Como, currently plays some of the finest football in Italy.”
The match also marks a touchline reunion for De Rossi with his former Roma coach, Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti had previously referred to De Rossi as one of his “football sons” who transitioned into a tactical role. De Rossi reflected on their long-standing relationship: “He imparted so much knowledge to me. I played under him when I was very young, and when he returned [to coaching], he was an even more refined coach than I remembered.” He continued, “This demonstrates his constant desire to stay abreast of football’s evolving dynamics, to perpetually develop, and to maintain his status as a modern coach, regardless of how much time passes.” Their professional bond was extensive, with De Rossi featuring in 251 competitive matches under Spalletti – more than with any other manager – during which he contributed 30 goals and 27 assists.
