Davide Ballardini won his Genoa debut, but now faces the club he led twice. “It's always a pleasure to come back to Cagliari.”
The tactician was fired in 2005 after nine rounds without a single win, then returned in December 2007 to save them from relegation, but left at the end of the season.
“I was happy in Sardinia and it's always a pleasure to return to Cagliari,” he said.
Ballardini was brought in last week as a shock replacement for Gian Piero Gasperini on the Genoa bench.
Davide Ballardini won his Genoa debut, but now faces the club he led twice. “It's always a pleasure to come back to Cagliari.”
The tactician was fired in 2005 after nine rounds without a single win, then returned in December 2007 to save them from relegation, but left at the end of the season.
“I was happy in Sardinia and it's always a pleasure to return to Cagliari,” he said.
Ballardini was brought in last week as a shock replacement for Gian Piero Gasperini on the Genoa bench.
His first match was a 1-0 victory over Bologna, while Cagliari fell to Napoli with the last kick of the game.
“It will be tough against Cagliari, as the defeat to Napoli will have left some bitter feelings in the side and they'll want to make up for that disappointment.
“Unfortunately I won't be able to recover any of the injured players. Houssine Kharja will be at my disposal, but certainly does not have 90 minutes in his legs.
“I do believe that I will change a few things in defence, though.”
Bosko Jankovic, Rodrigo Palacio, Giuseppe Sculli, Chico and Raffaele Palladino are out of action.
Dario Dainelli could be rested so that Kakha Kaladze can take the centre-back role.
Genoa squad: Eduardo, Scarpi, Perin, Criscito, Dainelli, Kaladze, Moretti, Ranocchia, Tomovic, Kharja, Mesto, Milanetto, Modesto, Rafinha, Rossi, Veloso, Zuculini, Boakye, Destro, Rudolf, Toni