Davide Nicola, currently coach of Venezia, recalled his experience with Genoa during a press conference before the match against the Genoa team. In his speech, the former footballer spoke sincerely about the responsibility of leading a club with such a rich history and how respecting the fans was a fundamental element of his journey.
In 2019-2020 Nicola took over as coach of Genoa, a team which, according to him, represents a high level of competition and a well-established structure. He stressed the importance of quickly learning about the club's culture, appreciating its history and treating it with care. “Whoever becomes a coach must learn to love the colors he represents,” he said, highlighting how this passion translates into a constant commitment to the values of the club and its supporters.
The coach also described the team as "a high-level team, accustomed to the championship, with a competent coach and quality players, especially in the attacking midfield and in attack". He explained that Genoa is a demanding environment that offers the opportunity to grow by interpreting the phases of the game well in a short time. “Attacking and defending must not remain fixed in one area of the pitch, but we must move quickly,” he said, highlighting the need for rapid possession and an effective non-possession phase.
Nicola also expressed his hope that Genoa fans respected him, recalling that his dedication to previous clubs was always motivated by the desire to honor supporters' expectations. “Respect is earned,” he added, reiterating the importance of maintaining a relationship of trust with the fan base.
Finally, he asked to see how the team would react in different pressure contexts, underlining that only by playing matches can one truly understand the level of attention and motivation needed to achieve objectives. With these words, Nicola closed his interview, suggesting that his experience at Genoa remains an important point of reference in his coaching career.