Genoa Wiretap

Genoa has parted ways with Patrick Vieira as manager after a winless start to their Serie A season. Vieira was hired as manager of Genoa in November 2024 as the club was foundering in 17th place. Genoa finished 13th where they were 12 points clear of relegation.

This season, Genoa has taken just three points from nine Serie A matches. 

A Genoa statement read: “Genoa CFC announces that Patrick Vieira is no longer the coach of the first team

“The club would like to thank the coach and his staff for the dedication and professionalism they have shown throughout their work and wishes them all the best for their future careers.”

Vieira was hired as manager of Crystal Palace in 2021, but was fired in March 2023 during a relegation battle. Vieira then managed Strasbourg from 2023 until June 2024.

Serie A training is expected to resume on May 4th, with an eye towards matches resuming in late May.

Individual training will start on May 4th, with group training resuming on May 18th. 

Matches could then potentially restart as early as May 27th, with an end date of mid-July if all goes to plan.

Brescia president Massimo Cellino said that Serie A should cancel the rest of this season.

Cellino added that if Lazio wanted to win the title so badly, they should be awarded.

"If Lazio want the Scudetto, let them have it. This is the plague.

"Don't be daft, how can we resume the season? I am thinking of next term and only that. The Coppa Italia, the Scudetto... if [Lazio president] Claudio Lotito wants it, he can have it.

"He's convinced that his team is unbeatable, so let him keep that belief. How can we be sitting here talking about the Serie A title when we have a plague on our doorstep? I couldn't care less about football right now," said Cellino.

As of Sunday, there was a total of 6,557 cases of COVID-19.

Several Juventus players recently tested positive, including Paulo Dybala and Blaise Matuidi.

The Serie A season could be spread over two seasons, said the president of the Italian football federation Gabriele Gravina.

All sporting events in Italy have been put on hold until April 3rd, though it is likely that the suspension will be extended.

Other possibilities include having a playoffs to determine the champion and relegation. 

"If it isn't possible to bring the leagues to a conclusion, we will opt for other decisions," Gravina told Radio 1 Rai.

"It isn't ruled out that the current season could be spread out over two different seasons.

"I understand that there is a lot of curiosity, but today nobody is in a position to say what our future holds."

There are still 12 rounds of fixtures left in the season.

Serie A matches have been suspended until April 3rd due to concerns over the coronavirus.

There are over 9,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

UEFA announced that both legs of Roma's European clash against Sevilla will be played behind closed doors.

Other European leagues have put measures into effect, with La Liga and Ligue 1 set to play matches without supporters.

Serie A sides will meet in an emergency meeting on Tuesday to discuss league protocol surrounding the coronavirus. 

There were calls from the players' association and sports minister to suspend the league with matches to be played behind closed doors throughout March.

The Italian prime minister also put into place a quarantine to restrict movement in the northern region of the country. 

"Stopping football is the most useful action for the country at this moment. The teams we should be cheering on are playing in our hospitals and emergency centres," said players' association president Damiano Tommasi.

5,883 people in Italy have been infected with coronavirus through Sunday. 

The Italian government ruled that all sporting events in the country will be played behind closed doors until April 3rd due to the coronavirus.

There are over 3,000 reported cases in Italy.

The Coppa Italia semi-finals between Juventus-Milan and Napoli-Inter were already called off.

Postponed matches from last weekend's Matchday 26 will be played this upcoming weekend, including a top-of-the-table clash between Juventus and Inter. 

Genoa appointed Thiago Motta to replace Aurelio Andreazzoli as their new manager.

The 37-year-old Motta has previous coaching experience with PSG's U19s.

Motta presented his ideas for a 2-7-2 formation while at PSG. 

Genoa striker Krzysztof Piatek has joined AC Milan in a deal worth just over $40 million.

Piatek scored 19 goals in 21 appearances for Genoa this season.

The 24-year-old striker replaces Gonzalo Higuain. 

Real Madrid are rumored to have contacted Kryzsztof Piatek's representatives about a potential move to the Spanish capital over the winter window.

Piatek has had a breakout season with Genoa. His 13 goals are tied for most in Serie A with Ronaldo.

Genoa have reportedly put a price tag of over $57 million for the 23-year-old.