In the last two months, since mid-December, Davide Zappacosta has made as many appearances as in the previous year and a half, and almost half as many appearances as in the previous two seasons combined. Since recovering from a bout of coronavirus and a subsequent injury, the Chelsea loanee has played ten in a row for Genoa, starting the last eight.
Unsurprisingly, the 28-year-old is enjoying this long awaited run of games and good form.
“Two years ago, at Chelsea I had little space and last year in Rome I had a cruciate injury. I wanted to get back into the game and I found the ideal destination in Genoa.”
“The reality is that I am finally training well, with consistency. I demand a lot from myself and I am not satisfied, never. I want to give even more.”
-Davide Zappacosta; source: Gazzetta dello Sport via Inside Futbol
Zappacosta’s return to the team, featuring largely as a right wing-back in a 3-5-2 formation, has coincided with a coaching change — Rolando Maran out, Davide Ballardini in — and a resulting run of good form from the team as well. Genoa have climbed out of the Serie A cellar into midtable thanks to five wins in those ten games, with just two defeats.
“I’m having a great time here, I’ve never lived in a seaside town and I must say that I honestly like the idea a lot. There are many days when I wake up with the sun and see the sea. This puts you in a good mood. I feel really good here in this city, but also with my teammates.”
-Davide Zappacosta; source: Il Secolo XIX via Football Italia
Whether that bodes well for a long-term stay for Zappa in Liguria remains to be seen however. He will have one more year left on his Chelsea contract, and as far as we know, Genoa do not have a buy-option at the moment, not that those are particularly useful clauses anyway. But if Zappacosta can rediscover the form that prompted Conte’s Chelsea to spend nearly €30m on him in 2017, Genoa may not be the only team potentially interested in his services.