Orsolini on Italy’s World Cup hopes, Gattuso’s approach and Bologna’s group | OneFootball

Riccardo Orsolini is confident that Gennaro Gattuso will create a solid Italy group, like Vincenzo Italiano has done in Bologna and insists the Azzurri will ‘use all our tools’ to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The Italy international held a press conference at Coverciano on Tuesday. Football Italia was among the accredited media.

Orsolini is the current Serie A top-goal scorer alongside Inter’s Hakan Calhanoglu, with five goals in 11 appearances.

The Italian winger has netted six times in 15 appearances across all competitions this term.

Orsolini reliable for club and country

The 28-year-old has scored two goals in 12 appearances with the Italy national team and has been a regular in the Azzurri squad since Gennaro Gattuso’s appointment, providing one assist in three games under the new CT.

Orsolini seems to have finally fulfilled his potential under Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano, scoring 23 goals and providing five assists in 55 Bologna games.

LECCE, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 28: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates after scoring his team’s equalizing goal during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Bologna FC 1909 at Stadio Via del Mare on September 28, 2025 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

The Rossoblu beat defending champions Napoli before the international break and have only lost two Serie A matches this term.

The Rossoblu sit 5th in the Serie A table with 21 points, just one below a Champions League spot and three behind leaders Inter and Roma.

Below is every word Orsolini said during today’s press conference.

PRAISE FROM PALACIOS AND DZEMAILI, EX-BOLOGNA STARS – “I have a special relationship with them. I was a kid when I arrived in Bologna and they were experienced players. Generally, I’ve always felt at ease with all the groups I’ve been in. They were important players who gave me advice that helped me improve, and I thank them. Once in a while, Dzema comes to visit us because he works as a pundit, so we meet and joke.”

ORSOLINI ON BEST MOMENT OF HIS CAREER? – “It’s the most important moment of my career. I came here with a special awareness. I understand things that I didn’t understand before, and this has helped me solve some problems I could have had in my head. Now, with maturity, I understand many little things that I ignored before, and I think there’s no better way to conquer things I left behind in the past.”

GROWTH IN BOLOGNA – “Feeling important, strong, and having a winning mentality. In Bologna, we’ve had an important path in the last two or three years. Many of us have grown. We’ve played in the Champions League and Europa League, and this has helped us grow in many aspects.”

ORSOLINI ON HIS ITALY CAREER – “I made my debut under Mancini in 2019, then I missed the Euros that the lads won. I was called by Spalletti, too. As I jokingly said the other day. I was in and out. Now I’ve come in through the main door, and I’m proud of my improvements. I want to keep hold of the national team. We want to reach an important competition, which would be the peak of my career. I just want to do well and enjoy every day I spend here. I’m feeling good with the team and the coach. The coach talks a lot to me and gives me trust.”

BOLOGNA, ITALY – OCTOBER 05: Riccardo Orsolini of Bologna FC 1909 celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the Serie A match between Bologna FC 1909 and Pisa SC at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

SERIE A’S CENTRE-FORWARDS STRUGGLE TO SCORE – “Perhaps, I’m not the right person to answer this. I try to do my job, trying to score as many goals as possible. I’ve reached double figures in the last three seasons, and I’m happy about my score. Perhaps defences are getting stronger, so scoring goals is becoming more difficult, but I just look at myself.”

WHAT HE BRINGS FROM BOLOGNA – “I bring all the characteristics that the coach already knows. Unpredictably, try to create a numerical advantage on the wings. These are qualities that Gattuso knows and Italiano is teaching me well, which gives me awareness. There’s a lot of variety with the national team, technically and tactically. We can change the system and players, and when a coach has all these options, it’s easier to work for him. Italiano has helped me in the last two years because he made me realise what I was missing, especially in attack and defence, to become a complete player, which is what I’m aiming for. Indeed, one never stops learning. I’m doing my best; let’s see how it goes.”

GATTUSO’S INSTRUCTIONS V. ESTONIA – “You mentioned the Estonia game, which was different from what I’m accustomed to with Bologna, where I usually have a central midfielder helping me defensively. For Italy, I’d even play in goal. I’m available for the coach and the teammate. We have a bigger target than the individuals and systems. You all know that. We’ll use all our tools.”

WHAT ORSOLINI HAS LEARNED UNDER ITALIANO – “Italiano has taught so much technically and tactically. We’ve been playing at a very high level over the last few years. We have fun in Bologna. We don’t look at the next opponent or the table. We enjoy every game; we are an extraordinary group, which is our secret. It’s a group that has been together for three or four years. We know each other well. We changed the coach two years ago, but the substance didn’t change. We are united, and I believe serenity helps win games.”

BOLOGNA’S TARGETS – “We don’t even think about possible targets, perhaps the Scudetto is too much, but we have fun in Bologna and I think it makes the difference.”

DIDN’T PLAY ENOUGH FOR ITALY IN THE PAST – “I don’t know. Actually, we’ll never know. I’ve always tried to bring numbers, goals and performances, making myself available for the coaches. I don’t know whether I received enough, but I know what I can give now. Actually, it gives me even more desire to earn a spot here.”

BOLOGNA – “Bologna has been a happy island for me in recent years. Young players integrate well, and they grow. Bologna is a courageous club, with a different planning from the others. We live well, we work well, the fans support us, and there’s no better way to work. You love what you do, and people recognise it. Bologna was the best choice for me, and I think the same is true of many other lads.”

ORSOLINI ON WORLD CUP – “It’s been too many years since Italy have not played in such an important competition. Some kids have never seen Italy in the World Cup. There’s a sense of responsibility, but there are also personal motivations. It gives me anxiety just to think about Italy not being at the World Cup. We commit ourselves and others. I repeat, we’ll do anything, anything to play in the World Cup. It’s the only way to make it happen and we must go straight ahead.

“There are still two games to be played. Therefore, I still have hope we can qualify directly. We are just focused on the next two games; we want to make a good impression because we want to give consistency to the recent results. We are satisfied with the job we’ve done so far. At the end, we’ll understand our fate.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy looks on prior to the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

GATTUSO’S APPROACH – “When Gattuso arrived, he immediately brought a breath of fresh air in terms of enthusiasm; perhaps the team was dejected before. What I can say is that the coch gave us serenity and calmness. The only way to make it is through hard work, enthusiasm, intense training sessions and when you have this mentality and lightheartedness, you create a strong mentality to play for what everyone dreams of.

ORSOLINI ON WHAT ITALY CAN LEARN FROM BOLOGNA – “Obviously. Bologna and the national team can’t be compared. It’s a club and a federation, so it’s hard to compare them, but I repeat that in Bologna, the group’s strength is what has made the difference, so I hope the same can be done here. Many lads here won the Euros in 2021, and I think the group also made the difference there. There’s good planning here. We verify situations that are very important, also off the field. Even just going out for dinner could make a difference, and the coach is great because he usually leaves us one free night to have dinner together to create a group. These are small things, but they can make a difference. I believe that the group always makes the difference in winning teams. If we can create this chemistry, then we are already a step forward.”

MOLDOVA – “Surely, it will be a tricky game which we should not underestimate. We have all to lose because you might underestimate the opponent, which we don’t want to do. There’s great awareness, and it’s a chance for those who want to show their worth. As far as I’m concerned, I don’t need special motivation to prepare for games with the Italian national team, especially in difficult moments. The pitch will do the talking on Thursday.”

BOLOGNA, ITALY – OCTOBER 02: Riccardo Orsolini (L) of Bologna FC celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD2 match between Bologna FC 1909 and SC Freiburg at Stadio Renato Dall’Ara on October 02, 2025 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

JOKING ABOUT ITALY V. NORWAY WITH HEGGEM – “We’ve already taunted each other for a few weeks. I’ll be waiting for him on Sunday night in Milan, and, hopefully, I’ll be the one mocking him at full time.”

ORSOLINI WAS 17 WHEN ITALY PLAYED THEIR LAST WORLD CUP GAME – “I have chills just thinking about it. Being here, a few years later, is something extraordinary and thrilling that makes me go back in time and think about all the sacrifices I’ve made to be here. I have a great desire to participate in such a competition because, inside me, there’s still that kid who dreamed of being here. Now I’m here and I can’t withdraw in the best moment, so I hope Riccardo’s dream as a kid will be fulfilled.”