Genoa vs Fiorentina preview - Viola pluck Gilardino's heart strings
Posted Sunday, March 25, 2012 by PA
Genoa striker Alberto Gilardino admits he will have to put emotions to one side when he faces his former club Fiorentina on Sunday.
The Italy international will play against the Viola for the first time since leaving the Tuscan outfit in January to join Genoa.
"I spent three important years of my career in Florence," Gilardino said. "I played in Europe with them, scored 59 goals with the Viola.
"I cannot forget what I've done in the past or the emotions I've felt.
"But on Sunday I will have to leave those feelings at home and do well for Genoa and for our fans."
Gilardino has not yet been a hit at Genoa. He scored his first and only goal for the Grifoni on January 29 and has not found the target since.
Lack of goalscoring has been Genoa's main problem of late, having failed to find the back of the net in their past two encounters.
Pasquale Marino's side has not won since February 5 and has taken three points since - all from draws.
Last weekend's 1-0 defeat at Roma saw them drop to 14th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Rivals Fiorentina travel to the Luigi Ferraris stadium desperate to make amends for last weekend's 5-0 home loss to Juventus.
The result followed their 1-0 defeat at Catania and left the Viola one place and one point behind Sunday's rivals.
Fiorentina have not won on the road since January 8 but club midfielder Juan Manuel Vargas is nevertheless confident his side will return to victory on Sunday.
"This difficult moment will pass," he said. "The team is giving its best even though things are not going our way.
"We must continue to work and we patient."
Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi will be without midfielder Alessio Cerci, who must serve his first of a three-match ban this weekend.
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