27 October 2026
The Men’s First Team face another Serie A test, this time travelling to Liguria to take on Genoa.
The Matchday 9 clash is scheduled for 20:45 CET on Thursday, October 28. Coach Luciano Spalletti spoke to the press before the action.
GENOA AND THE CHALLENGE AGAINST DE ROSSI
“We’re up against a really tough side, both in terms of the atmosphere and from a tactical point of view. Genoa have a range of options during the match; they can capitalise on their physical strength from set pieces and attack behind the defence. Above all, however, they have [Daniele] De Rossi’s spirit. I know him well, he was my right-hand man on the pitch and was able to instantly instil in the team his determination, his grit and his fighting spirit.”
THE TEAM’S CURRENT FORM AND OBJECTIVES
“We’re on top of things, the team is on top of things and the club is on top of things. I think the lads have shown this too with the quality of the move that led to the first goal against Lecce. We need to be ready because an extremely difficult match awaits us. We’ll have to play as we did in the first half against Lecce, knowing that there will also be pitfalls as the match progresses. Fatigue is a state of mind; sooner or later it sets in, but what matters is what you manage to do despite that fatigue.
“We need to win matches and put in convincing performances, like the one against Lecce. We need to find the right solutions tactically and dispel any doubts mentally. Results must come through clear thinking and the right decisions.”
THE TACTICAL SOLUTIONS
“It’s an issue that starts with assessing the players’ attributes, whilst taking into account the composition of our squad. We mustn’t penalise those with different attributes. A slight rotation is all it takes to switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation, and several players can fill those two positions. [Randal] Kolo Muani can also occupy that space, playing the role partly as an attacking midfielder and partly as a winger.
“Tactical systems can change during a match, but certain combinations between players remain. With an extra centre-back, we have greater physical presence in midfield. In Lecce, in the second half, the opposition switched to a back three and we had to adapt, switching to a 3-4-2-1. These are situations that arise during the match and we must be ready to deal with both.”
TACTICAL CHOICES AND KOLO MUANI
“We’ve also got [Pape Matar Sarr] back, so we have the option of playing a winger in the half-space, close to the striker.
“When assessing Kolo Muani, we must consider not only what he does during the match, but also the impact he has on opponents. He’s a player who always strikes fear into the opposition, and this also allows his team-mates to capitalise on it.”
MANAGING THE FIXTURES
“We have to take everything into account, including the match against Napoli. Today, however, I saw the team showing great focus in the situations we practised and great clarity in their decision-making. The lads worked well, even if at a slow pace. We must remain convinced of our qualities, without losing confidence.”
