Vieira laughs at inevitable Balotelli question, Gilardino ‘part of the family’ | OneFootball

Patrick Vieira chuckled when he was met with an inevitable question about his relationship with Mario Balotelli at the beginning of his first press conference since his appointment as head coach of Genoa earlier this week.

The legendary former Arsenal captain was appointed as the successor to Alberto Gilardino on Wednesday, signing a deal with the Grifone until the summer of 2026.

The 107-time France international sat down for his introductory press conference in front of the media on Friday afternoon, where he discussed Gilardino’s departure, the tactics he hopes to deploy with Genoa and his coaching staff.

First of all, though, there was a question about his relationship with Balotelli. The pair have not always enjoyed the smoothest of relationships, particularly during their time together at Nice in Ligue 1.

“I expected that would be the first question,” Vieira laughed.

“Italian football has changed a lot, the players have changed, but what is consistent is that Serie A is a very difficult league to play in. It is not easy to win, but we have the quality to do well.”

Returning to the Balotelli topic, Vieira added: “I know Mario very well, he’s a player and a guy that I like. He has to continue working to be available to help the team do well and win. He’s a great player, but he has to carry on working hard.”

Genoa’s Mario Balotelli in action during the Italian Serie A soccer match Parma Calcio vs Genoa CFC at Ennio Tardini stadium in Parma, Italy, 04 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ELISABETTA BARACCHI

Balotelli on replacing Gilardino

Not everybody was best pleased when Gilardino was given his marching orders after just 12 matches of the 2024-25 season. Vieira acknowledged that, and also had some kind words to say about his predecessor.

“The fans’ opinions will never change. Gilardino was a very good player and an important coach for Genoa. He was a big figure in the city. That will never chance, and I will not try to convince people otherwise. “I believe that this club and its fans are part of a family, you can see the relationship even from the outside.”

Discussing Genoa generally, Viera said: “It’s important for my job to have a good relationship with the club and the directors. When we first talked about it, we had clarity and I felt good on a personal level about what the club wants to do. “I see a group with quality and one that is ready to win games. When you put those things together, it becomes very interesting for the coach.”

Vieira has also brought in his own coaching staff for his Serie A gig.

“For me it was important to have people I have worked with before but the important thing is to have a staff that knows the company. We are really happy to be here,” he said about his Genoa colleagues.