Marroccu: 'Strootman needed to play'

Genoa director Francesco Marroccu believes Davide Ballardini has ‘chosen the right XI’ to face Inter and explains Kevin Strootman’s rediscovered form.

The Grifone go to San Siro with some surprises in the line-up, as the focus inevitably drifts to Wednesday’s Derby della Lanterna with Sampdoria.

“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.

Since Ballardini replaced Rolando Maran at the end of December, Genoa have lost only one Serie A game.

“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.”

Strootman was a January arrival from Olympique Marseille who never seems to be out of the line-up, but Marroccu reveals there is a reason for that.

“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.”