It wouldn’t be a Serie A season without Genoa changing their manager. The side based in North West Italy are regular strugglers and, at times, have gone through as many as four managers in a season. Their leadership has changed again in this campaign as they brought back Davide Ballardini.
Ballardini is now in his fourth spell at the club and, once again, he has weaved his magic, guiding Genoa from 19th to 12th in just eight league games. He has transformed the club yet again having rescued them on three previous occasions. He has found a style to suit the players and the consistency is being rewarded with improved results.
Davide Ballardini Weaving His Magic at Genoa
His Fourth Spell Has Started Sensationally
When Genoa sacked the experienced Rolando Maran, it wasn’t too much of a surprise. He was dismissed after notching just seven points in his 13 league games in charge. They were languishing in 19th place, four points from safety.
The club called for Ballardini and he has answered in spectacular fashion. His eight league games have yielded 17 points from the 24 available, with five wins and only one defeat since Ballardini’s return in late December.
Genoa have seen off Napoli, Crotone, Cagliari, Bologna and Spezia while also collecting excellent draws with Atalanta and Lazio. It’s a remarkable turnaround and the club are very much looking upwards.
Unsurprisingly, goals scored and goals conceded have also improved since Ballardini returned. Genoa have already matched the total scored in their opening 13 Serie A matches in their eight games under Ballardini.
The defensive improvement, too, has been clear for all to see. Under Maran, Genoa had conceded 26 goals, averaging two goals a game. But Ballardini has tightened them up unbelievably since taking over. Genoa have only conceded five times since Ballardini returned, keeping four clean sheets.
The club has made huge strides in a very short space of time. From 19th, Ballardini has guided Genoa to 12th, three points off the top ten. However, the more important point is Genoa are currently nine clear off the relegation zone.
Ballardini Changing Genoa Fortunes for the Fourth Time
This isn’t the first time Ballardini has been thrust in to change the fortunes of the Serie A side. He is into his fourth spell with the club having first taken charge in November 2010.
His first spell saw him take charge for the remainder of the 2010/11 season. He guided Genoa to top-half finish after replacing Gianpiero Gasperini, notching an impressive 40% win rate.
Following another turbulent start to a season, Ballardini was brought in to rescue the club. The club had already gone through two bosses before he returned in January 2013. His six months in charge saw him save the club from relegation, guiding them to 17th, taking 21 points from his 16 games in charge.
His most recent spell prior to his current return was during the 2017/18 season. Following a dismal start to the campaign, which saw Genoa collect just seven points from their first 12 matches, Ballardini returned. He replaced Ivan Juric and continued his impressive statistics with the club collecting 34 points from his 26 games in charge. They finished 12th that season.
He did start the 2018/19 season but despite winning four of their opening seven matches, Ballardini left the club, ending his third spell in charge.
His fourth spell so far has been very simultaneous to his third. Inheriting the side with just seven points and languishing in deep trouble at the bottom of Serie A. Ballardini continues to inspire the club this time around and they are pushing towards the top ten.
A Settled Style Has Got the Best Out of the Players
Since returning, Ballardini has installed a back three system which has suited the players perfectly. The team are solid defensively and creating better chances offensively.
All eight league games have seen Ballardini settle on the back three system with experienced heads Andre Masiello, Ivan Radovanovic and Domenico Criscito. They have formed a formidable group, marshalling the back three excellently and keeping the opposition out.
Experience is generally what Ballardini has utilised since returning to the club. Milan Badelj, who has played for the likes of Lazio and Fiorentina, has been a regular in midfield while Davide Zappacosta has made the right wing-back role his own. The Chelsea loanee has recaptured the form he demonstrated while playing for Torino.
The forward line has also found a deadly streak. Mattia Destro had only managed three goals in Genoa’s opening 13 games but has six in eight since Ballardini returned. Destro is in rampant form, starting seven of Ballardini’s eight games in charge.
He has kept his place in the side, with veteran Goran Pandev and Eldor Shomurodov sharing the other place in the front two. Pandev stole the headlines in their last league game with Napoli, though. as his brace secured a third consecutive league win.
A Testing Run of Matches Will See How Far Genoa Have Come
The fourth Ballardini era has been excellent thus far but a testing run of games could see how far his side have come.
Their next six league games see them face sides at the top and the bottom of the table. They are basking in a terrific run which has seen them win their last three league games. Their next league game takes them to struggling Torino, who are unbeaten under their new manager, Davide Nicola.
That fixture is followed by games against European hopefuls Hellas Verona and second-place Inter Milan – two testing matches with their defence likely to face a real test, especially against free-scoring Inter.
Those games are then followed by the derby against Sampdoria and a trip to the capital to face Champions League-chasing Roma. The derby with Sampdoria always sparks raw emotion and passion with the sides is such close proximity. They share the city’s stadium and both have the ambition to do better. It’s one Genoa will be determined to win.
A trip to Rome will offer another stern test but Roma have shown their inconsistent traits this campaign. It’s a testing run for Ballardini’s men but one they will relish having gained real confidence and momentum since he arrived.
It’s Clear Davide Ballardini and Genoa are a Perfect Fit
Some things in life work together and Ballardini seems a perfect match for Genoa. He seems to always come back when they call and always gets a reaction out of the team.
His fourth spell couldn’t have gone any better so far and, with the team looking imperious, it’s an exciting time for the fans of the club. Ballardini has turned the relegation certainties into top ten contenders in just a few weeks.
The experienced coach continues to weave his magic on a club that are no strangers to change. They are regularly active in transfer windows and regularly change their manager. But whenever Ballardini returns, he brings continuity and stability.
He continues to do a magnificent job in a club he seems to always rescue and stability. Ballardini is certainly Genoa’s magic man and the club are very much looking up.
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