Marroccu: Strootman is played regularly to get back to full fitness

will face

with a surprise in their starting XI, with their concentration mainly focused on Wednesday’s derby with

.

“

I think this is the right XI for this game, as the coach chose highly-motivated players who will be eager to prove themselves,

” the director told

Sky Sport Italia

.

Genoa have only been defeated once in their Serie A matches, ever since Davide Ballardini was appointed as Ronaldo Maran’s replacement in December.

“

Ballardini deserves praise for what he’s done and Genoa deserve credit for choosing him. I worked with Ballardini at Cagliari too and he did very well there too.

“There are some clubs where a certain alchemy exists that helps people to give their best. Having said that, Ballardini has a good record everywhere he has gone.”

Genoa midfielder Kevin Strootman joined the club in January on a loan deal from Marseille.

“

The limit with Strootman in France was that he didn’t play very much. Due to that, we are playing him regularly and giving him very little rest because he needs to get back to full fitness.

“We are on the right track and the squad had been constructed well in the first place, they were just gems that needed polishing.”

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