Italy v Estonia: Gattuso upbeat, team ready, no panic | OneFootball

Gennaro Gattuso spoke at a press conference just a few days before the World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Israel. The Azzurri head coach conveyed optimism and focus, touching on several topics: from tactical setup to the condition of the called-up players, and even the role of young talents in the national team.

Italy-Estonia, Gattuso: “Fired up and confident: the team is here, no panic”

“Fired up, but no frenzy”

Gattuso immediately wanted to clarify his state of mind:

“I’m fired up, I feel the responsibility of this jersey but not fear. We must not let ourselves get caught up in a frenzy chasing Norway: our history is not made of goal fests, but of unity and sacrifice.”

The coach confirmed that Italy will go back to defending with four at the back, while building with three in possession: “We need balance. I have to propose what I believe in, otherwise the players will catch me out right away.”

Call-ups and physical condition: doubts remain

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Among the doubtful names are Gianluca Scamacca and Sandro Tonali, not at their best but still confirmed in the squad. “Scamacca has some knee discomfort, but he’ll stay with us. Tonali needs to be managed.” On Chiesa, Gattuso explained: “He doesn’t feel 100% yet, the decision not to call him up was shared.”

He then highlighted the importance of young players like Esposito, Leoni, and Fabbian, praising their character: “I’m impressed by the guys who aren’t afraid. Last year, Leoni faced Lukaku without any complexes: that’s the spirit I want.”

Objective: a solid group and consistency

The former Milan and Valencia coach reiterated the need to build a stable core of 27-28 players: “Time is short, we can’t overwhelm them with too many instructions. They need to feel good together, that’s the secret.”

And addressing the fans: “I thank those who bought tickets for Bergamo and I make an appeal for Udine: we need our people, we can’t afford any more mistakes.”

Looking to the future: more Italians on the pitch

Gattuso also commented on the Serie A trend: “Few Italians are playing, that’s a fact, but things aren’t that bad. We have to get the best out of those we have, hoping that in the future more compatriots will be protagonists in our league.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.