Genoa, Alberto Gilardino announces four absences in derby

The words of Alberto Gilardino on the eve of the derby

Alberto Gilardino presented the derby with Sampdoria, valid for the round of 16 of the Coppa Italia, in a press conference: "C'è great excitement for this match, great expectation. On our part there will have to be and there must be great lucidity to face this match. Great strength, determination and spirit of sacrifice. These are the foundations that have always distinguished us and will have to distinguish us tomorrow inside game as well. We know that è a derby and everything resets. You reset the categories, you reset technical and physical qualities. Whoever will have the most desire to win will do so.

So he announced four absences for the challenge with the Blucerchiati: "Who will not be part of the derby will be" Junior Messias, Caleb Ekuban, Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Ruslan Malinovskyi. The others are recovered".

"Messias was recovering from his problem, he had to prolong this absence and I hope only for a few days,” added the Genoa coach. “From next week more instrumental evaluations will be done to confirm his return to the team. We all embrace Ruslan for what è happened to him. I have heard from him these days, he already wants to come back with the team. He is an amazing guy as well as a great professional. We are waiting for him".

Instead, there will be Fabio Miretti: "Fabio è returned not long ago and so we need caution. It takes patience to get this guy to 100% condition. He's been out for a long time, I hope he can be part of the game for a few minutes and then have him in the next one".

" Tomorrow will be a game about second balls, where we will have to be good and we will have possession. We will have to be good, through certain situations, to make the game dangerous. The’interpretation of each individual player will be decisive, but then it is group and team that must make the difference" concluded Gilardino.