Genoa’s De Rossi: ‘When you see me playing the clown to blame players, I’m finished’

PARMA, ITALY - SEPTEMBER 20: Daniele De Rossi head coach of Genoa CFC during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and Genoa CFC at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 20, 2026 in Parma, Italy. (Photo by Luca Amedeo Bizzarri/Getty Images)

Daniele De Rossi insists Genoa will pull clear again after a dismal start that has brought one point from five matches.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach was adamant the solution is not theatrics.

“We’ll get ourselves out of this situation like last year. The important thing is that everyone wants to immerse themselves in it. I want to create new good moments. With Genoa.”

He revealed that someone close to him had sent a photograph of him celebrating on his knees in front of the Genoa support, with the suggestion that fans want to see him like that again. The response was blunt.

“What am I supposed to do, celebrate after a defeat? When I went to greet my former fans under the Curva Sud last year, did I have grit on my face? No. I was dejected.

“I could put on a show on the bench: shout, yell, insult the players, attack them in press conferences as many of my colleagues do. Bang my fists and say the players have to take responsibility and be men, show their attributes. But you won’t see that from me. As long as my shoulders are broad enough to defend my players, I’ll keep doing this job. When you see me playing the clown to offload blame, it’ll mean I’m finished.”

His approach from here is to treat it as a fresh start.

“I have very clear ideas. It makes no sense to look back now. With my staff we’ve decided to think we’ve just taken over. We’re trying to eat the chicken with our hands. I have to work out how. We can’t wait to start again after the break.”

On Stephan El Shaarawy, De Rossi urged patience. “He’s spent his whole career out wide and we took him to fill the gap there. We have to understand there’s a fitness issue too, it’s understandable that he’s a bit behind.”

He also gave an update on Lorenzo Colombo. “Watching the video, the injury looked frightening. I thought everything had gone with his leg planted in the ground.” On teenager Robinho Junior, he was more upbeat: “He made an excellent impression on me.”