Genoa Edge Sassuolo in Heated Clash, De Rossi Hails Vital Win
Genoa manager Davide De Rossi has hailed the "gigantic importance" of his team's 2-1 victory over Sassuolo, a result that significantly boosts their Serie A survival hopes. The win, secured by Caleb Ekuban's late goal, was marred by a major tunnel incident that saw players from both sides sent off at half-time.
The match at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris was a tense, physical affair ultimately decided by a moment of quality from Ekuban, who came off the bench to score the winner after a Sassuolo equaliser. The game's narrative, however, was equally defined by a major flashpoint in the tunnel at half-time, which led to the dismissals of Sassuolo's Domenico Berardi and Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson.
De Rossi, speaking to Sky Sport after the match, acknowledged the disruption caused by the incident. "There were substitutions we didn't expect, a bit of confusion," De Rossi said. "We lost a lot of the interval trying to calm things down, both me and Fabio [Grosso, Sassuolo manager], after a good first half. It was a game we shouldn't have gotten nervous in because we were doing well." He praised his team's resilience, however, calling the three points "of gigantic importance" for moving away from the relegation zone.
The Genoa boss was particularly effusive about the match-winner, Ekuban, and fellow substitute Junior Messias. He highlighted their contrasting characters but equal importance. "Ekuban is extroverted, with Junior you have to work hard to get him to talk. But when you get inside, he gives you so much, both as a person and as a footballer." De Rossi also revealed that the club's summer transfer plans were already in motion, acknowledging that players would be sold and a "hard core" of the squad would be essential for integrating new signings.
Sassuolo manager Fabio Grosso offered a different perspective on the decisive tunnel altercation, which resulted in red cards for Berardi and Genoa's Albert Gudmundsson. "I spoke to Berardi and he said he didn't do anything. From the images, you can't see much. It was a scuffle at the end of the first half," Grosso told DAZN. He suggested the officials could have kept the teams at full strength, stating, "You could have kept the teams at 11 vs. 11." Grosso did, however, credit Genoa's will to win, saying, "We faced a team with a great desire to achieve their goal."
De Rossi, reflecting on the chaotic nature of the win, emphasised the character of his squad. "I asked the lads for a team that wanted to win more than the opponent. Today, we had more hunger than them and it showed," he said. With his team now seven points clear of the relegation zone, De Rossi will be hoping the fighting spirit shown in a fractious but vital win can see them secure their top-flight status in the final weeks of the season.
