Genoa coach De Rossi confirms Vasquez in starting XI ahead of Fiorentina clash

Genoa will line up with veteran midfielder Juan Vasquez from the first whistle when they face Fiorentina at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday, coach Daniele De Rossi announced at the pre‑match press conference. De Rossi stressed that despite a long international break and a spate of injuries, the squad is in a calm and focused mindset and ready to compete for points.

The coach acknowledged the unusually high injury toll – double the number of absences compared with the same period last season – attributing it to the congested schedule and extensive travel during the national team window. "We will not have many of the injured players back," he said, adding that the club and medical staff will continue to manage their recoveries.

Vasquez, a mainstay of the Italy national team, will start despite a slightly heavier travel load. De Rossi noted that the midfielder may be a bit more fatigued than usual but is fully prepared tactically and physically: "He will start the match and can influence the game from the beginning."

Young talents such as Kelechi Wiafe, Jakub Puczka and Eljif Mitaj also received the coach's confidence. De Rossi highlighted Wiafe's readiness to contribute from the kickoff, while Puczka is being experimented with in a new role that could enhance set‑piece threats. Mitaj, he added, has shown a higher level of performance than in recent weeks and will be evaluated based on the match context.

Midfielder Mamadou Traoré, who recently returned from a long injury lay‑off, impressed during a fitness test in Bucharest and is now considered fit to play. De Rossi explained that the club has been careful not to rush his reintegration, but the recent assessment suggests he is in better condition than expected.

Overall, De Rossi emphasized that the team must now focus on delivering results rather than experimenting further. "The matches count now. We have to clean our heads, trust our decisions and go for the points," he concluded, urging his players to stay disciplined and seize the opportunity against a strong Fiorentina side.