De Rossi demands focus as Genoa prepare for Como test
Genoa manager Daniele De Rossi has warned his players against complacency ahead of their penultimate home game of the Serie A season against Como. Speaking at a press conference on the eve of the match, the coach insisted his team would not "roll out the red carpet" for their visitors, who arrive at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris with European ambitions still alive. De Rossi emphasized the need for his squad to honor the season and their supporters with a strong performance, despite having already secured their primary objective of top-flight survival.
With the stadium expected to be full once more, De Rossi stressed the importance of maintaining concentration. "They are fighting for Europe, but we do not want to say goodbye to our fans with a poor performance," he explained, according to reports from the press conference. He highlighted the threat posed by Como, who possess the second-best attack in Serie A this season under the guidance of former midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The coach cautioned that the visitors could quickly end any post-achievement celebrations if Genoa's intensity drops.
In terms of team selection, De Rossi confirmed he does not plan a major overhaul of his starting lineup for the fixture. "Maybe I will change something, but I certainly won't change eight, nine, or ten players," he stated, opting for continuity while managing squad energy levels in the final stretch of the campaign. He provided updates on two players, confirming that on-loan West Ham United winger Maxwel Cornet will be in the squad but with limited match fitness, while defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy will be unavailable.
Reflecting on his tenure since taking charge, De Rossi pointed to a partial league table covering his period in management that places Genoa eighth, a marker of the team's progress. However, he tempered expectations with realism. "It's nice to say that in my period we are eighth, but if you look at the full table it says something else," he admitted, acknowledging that other clubs in the division are, on paper, better equipped. The former Roma captain framed the match as another step in the club's development, reiterating the pride associated with wearing the rossoblu shirt and the collective responsibility to compete fiercely. The encounter offers a final home test to measure the team's hunger before the season concludes.
