Genoa coach Thiago Motta insists he “lives well” with the pressure around the Derby della Lanterna and that the clash “motivates us”.
Motta has failed to win any of his six Serie A games since Genoa beat Brescia 3-1 on his debut in the dugout, and his task gets no easier tomorrow, when the Rossoblu face their city rivals.
“I live with it very well. In the end, it’s like every week,” he said at a press conference.
Genoa coach Thiago Motta insists he “lives well” with the pressure around the Derby della Lanterna and that the clash “motivates us”.
Motta has failed to win any of his six Serie A games since Genoa beat Brescia 3-1 on his debut in the dugout, and his task gets no easier tomorrow, when the Rossoblu face their city rivals.
“I live with it very well. In the end, it’s like every week,” he said at a press conference.
“The lads are doing well in training; I’m very calm before tomorrow’s match.”
The Grifone are only one point behind Claudio Ranieri’s men but will have to cope without suspended forward Goran Pandev and midfielder Kevin Agudelo.
“We have tried other solutions behind the striker. I am convinced that whoever starts will do a good job.
“They are all motivated, just as they should be, and they are doing well both physically and mentally.
“I am calm, because they know it’s an important game. Obviously, the derby motivates us.
“We approach the game to win as a team. It’s been too long since we’ve won a derby.
“This motivates us. Every game has its own story and we’ll have the opportunity to play a great game and to win.”
Motta knows opposite number Claudio Ranieri well from their time together at Inter, and he praised the “respectful and elegant” Samp boss.
“Ranieri is a great coach and a great man. It was a privilege to be his player and now to be able to face him as a colleague.
“I only have praise for him because he has shown his value through the results and as a man. He is respectful and elegant.”