De Rossi focused on Genoa survival after Italy's World Cup failure
Genoa manager Daniele De Rossi has insisted his sole focus is on his club's battle for Serie A survival, brushing aside broader discussions about Italy's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The former Roma captain addressed the media ahead of his side's crucial league fixture away to Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Monday, April 6th.
De Rossi, who took charge of the Ligurian club in a bid to steer them clear of the relegation zone, was unequivocal when asked about the national team's recent elimination. He expressed a desire to move beyond the widespread commentary surrounding the disappointment. "I believe we are talking a bit too much about it," De Rossi stated. "Especially since everyone is talking: from ex-players to journalists, to the butcher and the grocer. I am worried about Genoa's survival and I believe that adding more words to this soup of chatter is not so important."
The coach did acknowledge the personal sting of the result, having seen former teammates and players he helped develop distraught. His comments come during the international break, which saw Italy miss out on a second consecutive World Cup finals, a seismic event in the country's football history. De Rossi's pragmatic stance underscores the immediate pressures at club level, with Genoa sitting precariously above the bottom three.
On the pitch, De Rossi confirmed that on-loan Arsenal defender Brooke Norton-Cuffy will miss the Juventus match due to a minor injury sustained while on international duty. He offered a more positive update on midfielder Nicolò Baldanzi, who has returned to training and is in contention to start or feature from the bench against the Bianconeri. Genoa heads into the match following a 2-0 defeat to Udinese before the break, a result De Rossi described as disappointing but not reflective of his team's overall performance.
The upcoming match pits De Rossi against his former Roma coach, Luciano Spalletti, now in charge of Juventus. De Rossi spoke warmly of their relationship, calling Spalletti a "phenomenal" coach and a personal friend, but acknowledged the professional battle ahead. He analyzed Juventus as a "chameleonic" side with high technical quality, indicating his team is preparing several tactical alternatives for the encounter.
For Genoa, the final stretch of the season is purely about securing their top-flight status. De Rossi's narrow focus, deflecting external noise about the national team, is a clear attempt to foster a bunker mentality within his squad. The match against a Juventus side also fighting for European qualification represents a significant test of their resolve and defensive organization. A positive result in Turin could provide a major boost to their survival campaign, while a defeat would increase the pressure with only a handful of games remaining.
