Davide Ballardini urged Genoa to focus on their season opener with Empoli after tragedy shook the city. “We’ll do our jobs, but certainly don’t forget.”
It kicks off at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Their Week 1 fixture with Milan was postponed to October 31 as a mark of respect for the 43 who died in the Ponte Morandi collapse.
Genoa ultras have pledged to stay silent for 43 minutes.
Davide Ballardini urged Genoa to focus on their season opener with Empoli after tragedy shook the city. “We’ll do our jobs, but certainly don’t forget.”
It kicks off at 19.30 UK time (18.30 GMT), click here for a match preview.
Their Week 1 fixture with Milan was postponed to October 31 as a mark of respect for the 43 who died in the Ponte Morandi collapse.
Genoa ultras have pledged to stay silent for 43 minutes.
“Our minds inevitably keep wandering back there, because you can’t not remember such a huge moment for the city,” said the Coach in his Press conference.
“Having said that, the people of Genoa showed many times in the past that adversity brings out the best in them. Our duty now is to do our jobs on the field, but that certainly doesn’t mean we’ll forget.
“We trained well, the lads are eager to start playing and we’ve got everything in place to have a strong season. Our focus is on three at the back, but then we can make some adjustments, such as Mimmo Criscito on the left. He can even play as a deep-lying playmaker, because he has impressive vision.”
Sandro and Stephane Omeonga are out, while Andrea Favilli is nursing a muscular problem.
Genoa’s opponents Empoli won the Serie B title last season and began this term with an impressive 2-0 victory over Cagliari.
“They have reinforced by signing players with experience and quality. Empoli work very hard too and have a clear-cut style of football, so I expect a balanced encounter,” added Ballardini.
“All the teams appear to have strengthened this season and purchased players using a lot of common sense. That means it could be far tighter at the foot of the table.”
Genoa squad for Empoli: Marchetti, Vodisek, Radu; Spolli, Gunter, Criscito, Lisandro Lopez, Biraschi, Pereira, Lakicevic, Zukanovic; Romulo, Mazzitelli, Rolon, Lazovic, Bessa, Medeiros, Hiljemark; Piatek, Lapadula, Kouamé, Pandev, Dalmonte, Favilli