Genoa Coach Gilardino Talks Balotelli’s Motivation: ‘Are We Left Alone?’

Thanks to Andrea Pinamonti‘s providential goal, Genoa achieved an important victory against Parma and moved up the table. Alberto Gilardinowho among other things also gave space to the new signing Mario Balotelli, commented on the match in the press conference.

The words of Alberto Gilardino

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It’s always difficult to overcome difficulties, what did you particularly like besides the victory?

“We were a team. This contains many positive nuances. In recent weeks I have had responses from the group, even difficulties and tonight we collected. Great interpretation of the match, even from the very young players on the pitch. It is not a given, in an emergency situation, I I tried to isolate the team from these situations and I will continue to do so. This year we are called to the task because of how the beginning was and how everything that happens off the pitch is evolving. We must give credit to the boys. I’m alone with them but I don’t care, let’s go fight to the end, I will defend them to the death.”

What can Balotelli give?

“I applaud the whole team, those who played and those who took over, who entered with the right mentality. I’m happy for Mariohe has great motivation, he will have to train continuously and accumulate playing time, I am convinced that in the best conditions he can give us a lot. It will depend on him.”

You said you feel alone, lack of support from society?

“This is the reality, the sensations that a coach feels during the week are these. I don’t want to go into details, I think about working on the field with the team, isolating them from other situations. It wasn’t easythere have been many defeats, even undeserved ones like against Fiorentina. But putting on a performance like that in Parma means that the team is giving everything, they have desire and determination, we moved the ball and created opportunities. We won the second balls. Credit must be given to the team who must continue like this, head down because the path is arduous and long, a race awaits us in four days fundamental“.

This defeat is fundamental and distances criticism:

“Especially on a mental level, we were coming off two defeats and we took slaps, but we didn’t suffer any psychological repercussions. We fought, we stayed in the game, everyone did well, it wasn’t easy at all. It wasn’t a simple period but this shows that the team is attached to the shirt and to a career path that we have been following for some time, this is fundamental.”

You removed the two wingers by putting fresh forces on the flanks:

“That was the idea, Zanoli and Martin had spent a lot, it was right to change the fifths. He was there as a replacement. Everyone interpreted well, even Masini when he came in. We need people who fight, who run. Thorsby and Frendrup make 14 kilometers per game, Pinamonti and Ekhator sacrificed themselves and were also good up front.”

Has Frendrup made a big impact, does he seem fully recovered?

“Both him and Thorsby, they are our starters, they ran a lot, we recovered a lot of balls. Suzuki’s throws came but we ran away well and also took the second ball. The qualities of the Parma they could have put us in difficulty, we were good at understanding the type of game, we had prepared it well.”

Can this test of sacrifice be an example to society?

“I think about the boys and the pitch, protecting the team. It’s not a simple situation. This question shouldn’t be asked of me, others should answer. As I’ve already said, there is a need to love these boys and above all Genoa , it’s a team that gives everything, a team that always applauds us and loves the team. They see that the boys give everything and will always be on our side.

He has always skipped stages, what do you take away from his coaches?

“I played at Cossatese, being a coach is more difficult. Then I fondly remember my first experience as a coach at Rezzato. I had many good coaches who gave me ideasthey taught me a lot from a mental and motivational point of view as well as on the pitch. I had teachers like Lippi, Ancelotti, Pioli, Mihajlovicthe first Prandelli. I forget some but they all left me with a lot.”