Spalletti's Juventus face De Rossi's combative Genoa

Spalletti praises Genoa's fighting spirit under De Rossi ahead of Wednesday's Serie A clash, citing their physical strength and tactical quality.

Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti held his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's Serie A fixture against Genoa, looking to build on the recent 1-0 victory at Lecce that came after defeats to Lazio and a draw in Europe League against Rennes.

Spalletti highlighted the challenge posed by Genoa and their manager Daniele De Rossi. "Genoa will be very tough to face both for the environment and their tactical solutions," Spalletti said. "They have physical strength with Osmajic and Ostigard, quality with Messias, Baldanzi, El Shaarawy and Vitinha, but above all Genoa has De Rossi's spirit. I know him well—he was my right-hand man on the pitch, transmitting that willpower and determination to others."

Spalletti also addressed Juventus's recent tactical setup, the 3-5-2 formation, explaining it reflects the current moment and squad situation rather than player demands. He emphasized the team's focus and readiness for a difficult encounter, stressing the importance of maintaining the quality shown in the first half at Lecce.