Bonus threat worked, says Genoa boss

Genoa coach Alberto Malesani believes a threat to his players did the trick after they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with Juventus.

The outspoken boss said his men stood up and listened after he grilled them for their recent less-than-perfect Serie A performances.

Malesani’s side had lost twice and drawn once prior to their match against Juventus, and things looked bleak following Alessandro Matri’s double for the home side on Saturday.

But goals from Marco Rossi and Andrea Caracciolo saw the Liguria-based outfit steal an unlikely point from their trip to Turin.

“I ensured my players took note and I told the president there would be changes. I had become annoyed (with the poor form) and said there would be no bonuses for anyone. Look what happened … the players gave 100 percent the whole game,” Malesani told La Repubblica.

“I did not look at what Juventus were doing, but I focused on ourselves.”

“We have done good things of late, but just some luck was missing from our performances.”

The result lifted Genoa to ninth place on the Serie A table ahead of Wednesday’s league encounter against Roma.