Genoa – There is Messias chasing Orsolini on the wing, but also Malinovskyi who plays as a low point guard, tens of meters away from the opponent's goal, and Vasquez ready to play the left central role in the three-man defense but also the winger in midfield. These are the metamorphoses of Gilardino, a coach capable of changing the look of his team several times but also capable of having new intuitions on how to use his players.
In these first 13 months in Genoa, the former world champion coach has surprised everyone with his ability to be chameleonic and change game system several times. A skill that is also recognized by his colleagues who have difficulty finding references among the rossoblù players who, even during the match, alternate for example the 3, 4 and 5 defence. This year, however, making his debut in Serie A as a coach, Gilardino is also using original solutions in the way he employs players. Clearly, there is a need for willingness to want to change roles and to know how to adapt but, evidently, the rossoblù coach is capable of touching the right chords in his players.
Another demonstration came against Bologna of how the rossoblù coach is able to adapt the players to the opponents and to the type of match that Genoa intends to play. At the Dall'Ara, on paper the rossoblù took the field with the 3-5-2 but, for most of the match, Genoa lined up with a 5-man defense and Messias played in the role of left back. The Brazilian has pace and quality, he has played multiple roles in his career but seeing him so low at the start surprised everyone a bit. After the first few minutes in which he had to take the measure of Orsolini, who tried to aim him whenever he could, the move worked and it was precisely from a restart by Messias that the free kick came that gave Genoa the lead. «Messias sacrificed himself and I thank him – said Gila after the Dall'Ara match – but a player with his qualities can play anywhere».
Among the players that the Genoa coach has been able to revitalize, also using him in a different role, there is Vasquez who guarded the left-handed lane with Messias in Bologna. The Mexican is a central defender who in his career has played in the 4-man defense but, when necessary, also in the 3-man line. In some matches, however, Gilardino has moved him to midfield and although the attacking phase is not exactly in his skills, Vasquez also stood out for some percussion. «He's a war machine» Gilardino said of him at the beginning of the season. A similar solution, among other things, was also used on the right with De Winter who in some matches took to the field as fifth in midfield.
The role of Malinovskyi, on the other hand, is a first for his career of the Ukrainian who has also played in midfield in the past but never in the way Gilardino is using him. «I haven't changed his technical qualities but only his tactical approach – explained the Genoa coach – at this moment in his career, working further away from goal can help him make a leap in quality». Except in rare exceptions, the Ukrainian at this stage of the season starts as a midfielder but actually alternates with Badelj in the playmaker role. In this way, Gilardino intends to exploit the launch and vision of the game of Malinovskyi who in Udine, for example, propitiated the 1-2 goal with a saber strike of over 60 metres. The Ukrainian, among other things, as he also demonstrated in the last match against Bologna, is also good at defending and when needed he is demonstrating the desire to sacrifice himself even when not in possession of the ball. «Due to his characteristics and his tactical flexibility I believe that at this moment he is a player who can do very well in that area of the pitch – Gila said again – he is a little further away from the goal but he has vision and a great attitude in the field. defend: if he maintains this type of level, he is a very important player for us.”
As well as Messias, Vasquez and Malinovskyi there are also other examples of players that Gilardino uses in an alternative way. See for example Frendrup who, when necessary, transforms from a holding midfielder into a playmaker, not to mention Sabelli transformed by Gila into an all-round winger capable of performing both the defensive and offensive phases. Without forgetting Gudmundsson, to whom Gilardino gave the freedom that is making the Icelandic Kobold one of the most eclectic players of the tournament. All metamorphoses that are transforming the Griffin who has just returned to Serie A into one of the revelations of the championship.
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