Alberto Gilardino opened up about his time at Genoa, sharing candid thoughts on player growth and tactical challenges in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. On player development, he specifically highlighted Albert Gudmundsson, stating, “When I arrived, he hardly ever played. For him, I changed the tactical setup, working to bring him into the field from ‘just a winger’ and giving him absolute freedom in the opposition’s final third, allowing for continuous growth.”
Discussing his approach to coaching, Gilardino emphasized adaptability: “In today’s football, for a coach, the word adaptation is fundamental. You don’t always manage to express the game you want or build the team with the ideal interpreters to succeed.”
He was clear about his core principles: “A team of mine can play in many ways, but sacrifice, spirit, and humility must never be lacking.”
Gilardino spoke passionately about the club’s supporters: “An incredible chemistry was created between the fans and the team. We were one. Sometimes these are just clichés, but not this time: the 35,000 fans at the Ferraris, young, old, men, women, children, were truly our twelfth player on the field.”
Regarding his dismissal, he expressed disappointment: “I’m sincerely sorry to have been dismissed after an away win and a draw when we were recovering our players and we could finally see light at the end of the tunnel.”
Looking forward, Gilardino remained optimistic: “I’m waiting to return to do better than before. I’m not someone who has arrived; I’m learning, growing. I will make other mistakes, hopefully not the same ones. Certainly, my commitment and dedication will always be maximum.”
On the current Serie A season, he predicted a top three of Napoli, Inter, and Atalanta, praising the coaches of each team and expressing confidence in Genoa’s survival under new ownership.
Gilardino concluded with a touching sentiment: “Among the many Genoa fans, there will always be Alberto Gilardino too.”
