De Rossi joy at beating mentor Spalletti: ‘Genoa showed heart and spirit’

Daniele De Rossi admits it 'means a lot' for him to beat mentor Luciano Spalletti, as Genoa swept Juventus aside 2-0. 'The team showed heart and spirit.'

The two coaches took the unusual step of having their pre-match interview together on live television, confirming the strong rapport they had when De Rossi was Luciano Spalletti's player at Roma.

Now the student has become the master, beating his mentor 2-0 with goals from Kingsley Ehizibue and Tommaso Baldanzi in the first half.

ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Daniele De Rossi, head coach of Genoa, looks on during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

"It was a complete performance, because we held out under pressure a lot better than we had done in recent matches," De Rossi told DAZN Italia.

"It was a pretty difficult fixture for us, but the team showed heart and spirit, also with a few good attacking moves, so we are really happy."

Genoa have now registered three consecutive home victories after beating Venezia and Fiorentina, but seeing off Juventus is a huge confidence booster going forward.

ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Luciano Spalletti, head coach of Juventus, reacts during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

"I started thinking about coaching very early, already from the age of 25 or 26," revealed De Rossi.

"The older I got, the more I thought about my second career. Now I am taking on those giants of the profession, and it means a lot to me having won against coaches like Spalletti and Gian Piero Gasperini.

"However, the difference this evening was made by the players."

ITALY – OCTOBER 28: Tommaso Baldanzi of Genoa (4th from left) scores a goal during the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and Juventus FC at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on October 28, 2026 in Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Baldanzi had struggled for regular playing time, but he was decisive this even and scored the second goal too.

"We evaluated his characteristics, he hadn't had much space lately and I wanted to play him at all costs, because he was in good shape. We took him to the other side to where he usually plays, so we could isolate Lucumi in the Juve defence.

"Now that the referees allow more challenges and don't give as many fouls, playing the ball to feet becomes counter-productive, so we've got to get into those spaces instead.

"All the players were marvellous tonight, we made five or six changes and will make more against Lecce."