Genoa centre-back Daniele Portanova has accepted that the upcoming Derby della Lanterna against city rivals Sampdoria will be a difficult contest for the Grifone but insists that the side believe in what they are trying to achieve under new coach Fabio Liverani.
The 34-year-old told Rossoblu fans that the team want to make up for the opening two defeats but reiterated that the team could have expected to be approaching the match without registering a single Serie A point.
“We want to hit our goal. Here comes the right match, but it is difficult, [we aim] to make up after the first two matches,” Portanova told Sky Sports Italia.
“Arriving at the derby to win after losing the first two games? At the start season I would accept this, and even now.
“But to get a result it is so important you have the belief in what you do, and this does not fail Genoa.
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