Albert Gudmundsson’s very recent farewell to Genoa was the inevitable main topic of the press conference held by Alberto Gilardino on the eve of the rossoblù’s championship debut.
“I’ll start by saying that Albert has been away from the pitch recently because he’s undergoing rehabilitation to get over an adductor problem,” the Grifone coach said, before adding, “I have to thank him for what he’s shown and what he’s given to Genoa. But I think that all of us, and I’m referring to the Genoan people, to me, to my staff, but also and above all to my teammates, have given him a lot. If he’s been able to express himself at certain levels in recent years, everyone deserves credit. Today Albert is the past, the present is called Genoa. Let’s look ahead and keep intact the DNA that this team has always had since I’ve been here. I’ve always said that individuals make the difference, but also that the group is what matters most.”
The former Milan and Fiorentina striker then explained how the club is moving in an attempt to replace the Icelander: “We are vigilant on the market, even if it will be difficult, if not almost impossible, to find players with Albert’s characteristics. We are looking for a player who knows how to link attack and midfield but we all remember how Albert was two years ago and what a player he has become today. The credit goes to the environment he found and which allowed him to grow”.
Gilardino then also spoke about the new signings Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Andrea Pinamonti: “Norton-Cuffy has passed the medical tests but unfortunately he has a problem with his foot and therefore he will need a recovery program whose timing I cannot give you at the moment. He will continue to train separately for a while. I am happy with Pinamonti’s arrival because from the moment Retegui left there was the desire to find a player with characteristics that could combine well with Ekuban, Messias and Vitinha. He is an ideal profile for us”.
On the market in general, the coach finally added: “As I said last week, we have to wait until the end of the market. I hope there will be other additions not only on a technical level but also numerically. Tomorrow, as already happened in the Coppa Italia, I will bring seven Primavera players to the bench. At the moment we are short but whoever goes on the pitch tomorrow I am convinced will do well. For Pinamonti I don’t think there is enough time to send him on the pitch. Otherwise he would be a great help to us”.
