Genoa coach Patrick Vieira addressed the media ahead of his team’s upcoming away match against Torino, emphasizing the challenges they face and the improvements needed. The press conference, held at the “Gianluca Signorini” sports center in Pegli, covered various aspects of the team’s preparation and player availability.
Vieira began by acknowledging the difficulty of the upcoming match: “It will be a complicated and difficult game, but we are a team that is hard to face. We must maintain our concentration on the field, and we will be ready to play the game we need to play.”
Reflecting on the recent loss to Fiorentina, Vieira highlighted areas for improvement: “The game played in Florence shows that there are still things to improve. We played a match where we deserved more points. We must not lower our concentration and determination. It must always be high; our goal is to score points and stay in Serie A.”
Regarding player availability, Vieira confirmed that Bani has trained with the squad and will be available for selection. He also mentioned the return of several players from injuries, including Onana, who will be in the squad for the Torino match but is not yet ready to start.
When asked about striker Pinamonti’s goal-scoring drought, Vieira expressed confidence in the player: “For a striker, it’s always important to score goals. If we look at the last game played against Fiorentina, we created situations where we could score. In the offensive phase, we lack ruthlessness. Pinamonti wants to score, but I’m still happy with his performance. I like his mentality and how he works for the team.”
Vieira also discussed the team’s tactical approach, stating: “I don’t believe we will score more goals with two or three strikers on the field. I believe more in the offensive phase of the player. Since I arrived, we’ve had many injuries, but now players are returning.”
The coach addressed the team’s recent performances, particularly the slow starts against Napoli and Fiorentina: “We have to continue to be more demanding of ourselves because winning in Serie A is difficult. The mentality is right, but we must have it from the beginning.”
Vieira praised Junior Messias’ versatility and attitude: “I like his mentality. He commits to the team when he’s on the field and does his best for the team. I like his attitude in training. He’s been unlucky with injuries, and I hope that from now until the end of the season he can play. He has the quality to play on the right, on the wing, or centrally. He can also play as a second striker. He’s strong in one-on-one situations and can beat his man.”
