Domenico Criscito said being Genoa captain comes ‘with great responsibility’ but that the Grifone have 'the desire to never give up’.
The Rossoblu sacked Rolando Maran in December, after a run of 12 consecutive defeats in Serie A and the club sitting 19th in the table.
Davide Ballardini returned and has lifted the club to 13th in the League with five games remaining and Criscito admitted the run-in in recent years have been difficult for the Rossoblu.
“Being captain at Genoa comes with great responsibility,” Criscito told Il Secolo XIX. “You can feel that you have a large square behind you.
“I never thought it was too big of a burden. Difficult, yes, but with the desire to never give up.
“The captain must be there for better or for worse. The last run-ins were difficult and as a captain I felt the weight of the eventual defeat and thus relegation.
“Luckily, we have always managed to save ourselves.”