Daniele De Rossi faces the international break with Genoa on one point from five league matches, an opening that has left the coach visibly disappointed but not uncertain. He has not concealed the weight of the results, yet his response has been to protect his squad, work longer hours at the training ground and treat the next phase as the beginning of a new campaign.
The coach and the club
De Rossi said he has little interest in turning frustration into a public performance. A person close to him recently sent him an image of a knee-slide celebration from last season, suggesting supporters wanted to see that version of him again. His answer was blunt: there can be no celebration after defeat.
He recalled appearing subdued when he went to greet former supporters in the Curva Sud last year, insisting that his mood is not a change in character. The Genoa coach said he could shout at players, hit the bench, throw objects or use press conferences to demand that others “take responsibility”, but that approach will not be his.
“You will not see that from me,” he said. “As long as I am strong enough to defend my players, I will keep doing this job in that way. The day I become a clown to shift blame will mean I am near the end.”
Genoa’s difficulty, in De Rossi’s view, is principally in the final third. He said the side can reach the edge of the penalty area five, six or seven times, sometimes within one half, without producing a shot, an assist or a decisive action. The team’s defensive numbers are less alarming: by chances conceded, he said, Genoa would rank 12th in the division.
He rejected any suggestion that the poor start has clouded his thinking. De Rossi said his ideas remain clear and that, together with his staff, he has chosen to approach the coming weeks as if he had only just taken charge. It is now his responsibility, he said, to find the way forward rather than dwell on what has already gone wrong.
Fitness checks in Bucharest
The friendly defeat against Rapid Bucharest gave Genoa an opportunity to test players whose condition needed assessment. The main concern had been Colombo, whose injury initially appeared serious after his leg remained planted in the turf. De Rossi said the footage looked alarming, but the problem is not as severe as first feared.
The match also allowed him to extend the minutes of several players. Hamed Traoré completed 90 minutes and impressed his coach with his running capacity, which De Rossi had not expected to be at that level. El Shaarawy and Ehizibue were kept on until fatigue to establish their limits.
De Rossi said Hamed did not truly struggle physically, apart from making slightly fewer recovery runs at times, and added that his fitness was considerably better than Genoa had feared.
El Shaarawy has been signed to address a shortage of invention in wide areas, rather than to be moved closer to goal. De Rossi described him as a flank player throughout his career, someone expected to create, beat opponents and provide something different. He also noted that the player arrived last and may still be behind the rest of the group physically.
Robinho Junior also made a strong early impression. De Rossi admitted he did not know the youngster previously, describing the move as one for the future. The coach praised his intelligent, useful work on the pitch, while noting that he still needs physical development. Friendlies, he said, are important for young players, those short of minutes and those returning from physical issues.
A way back through the squad
De Rossi believes Genoa can recover as they did last season, with younger players and senior figures sharing the burden. Some wins may come through the energy of the emerging group, others through experience; the essential requirement is that everybody identifies with the task.
His stated ambition is to give Genoa supporters new positive memories, even if the immediate mood is sombre. The longer international break can be either an obstacle or an opportunity, he said. Teams in poor form would prefer it to pass quickly, while those in form would like to preserve their momentum.
He praised the club for remaining patient despite the defeats and said calm has not disappeared within the camp. Genoa are unhappy with their position, but eager to resume.
The next league match against Fiorentina is already De Rossi’s sole focus. Asked whether Roma can challenge Inter for the title, he acknowledged Roma’s strength before returning immediately to the delicate fixture awaiting Genoa after the break.
