Daniele De Rossi discusses his selections for Genoa’s match against Juventus and expresses his admiration for Luciano Spalletti, noting, “He keeps pace with the evolving landscape of football and remains a contemporary coach.”
The match will commence at the Allianz Juventus Stadium in Turin at 17:00 UK time (18:00 CEST).
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De Rossi comments on his choices for Genoa
MILAN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 28: Genoa CFC manager Daniele De Rossi observes the action during the Serie A match against FC Internazionale at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium on February 28, 2026. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Genoa went into the international break following a home loss to Udinese, with Brooke Norton-Cuffy sidelined due to an injury sustained while on duty with the England Under-21 team.
While there were various options available for the left flank, Aaron Martin was chosen over Stefano Sabelli.
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“Using left-footed players on the opposite side isn’t ideal, so I believe Martin is right for the left position. We can change the outcome of games through set plays, and Martin excels in that area; his fitness has also greatly improved recently,” De Rossi explained to Sky Sport Italia.
“The five-substitution rule favors teams with depth, though I believe Juventus has a strong starting lineup and plays some of the most enjoyable football in Italy right now, along with Como.”
TURIN, ITALY – FEBRUARY 22: Juventus FC’s head coach Luciano Spalletti observes the match against Como 1907 on February 21, 2026. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)
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This match will see a reunion between De Rossi and his former coach Spalletti, with De Rossi recalling how Spalletti regarded him as one of his “football sons” who has gone on to become a tactician himself.
“He taught me so much during my early years. He left and returned a better coach than I remembered,” De Rossi stated.
“This shows that he is always eager to adapt to new developments in football, continuously grow, and stay contemporary as time goes on.”
De Rossi enjoyed a lengthy relationship with Spalletti, participating in 251 competitive matches under his guidance, more than with any other manager, scoring 30 goals and providing 27 assists throughout that period.