Everything Baldini said during first Italy national team press conference: ‘Pride’ | OneFootball

Silvio Baldini says that he is ‘convinced’ Italy’s squad of youngsters is ready to win against Greece and Luxembourg in the upcoming June friendlies, has had his say on who should be given the national team head coach role on a permanent basis and has given his opinions on the current state of Italian football as a whole.

Baldini was called in as the interim head coach of the Italy national team following the resignation of Gennaro Gattuso immediately after the World Cup play-off final defeat against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the end of May.

Baldini will be tasked with leading the Italy national team into a pair of friendlies at the beginning of June and the U21 coach has named a squad that is made up predominantly of young talents he has worked with before.

Of the 24-man squad that Baldini has selected, only Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolo Pisilli and Francesco Pio Esposito have previously been capped by the senior Italy side.

Speaking during a press conference on Friday, Baldini explained his decision to pick a youthful squad, spoke about the need to play for pride, the change that needs to happen at club level in order to help the national team and the potential next incumbent of the Italy CT role.

Baldini on his surprise Italy call and the state of Italian football

“I believe that to coach the Italy national team, you need to have a certain CV and I don’t have that,” Baldini admitted at the beginning of his press conference (via TMW). “I’ve seen a lot of fans cheering because they’ve seen a change, but I’m not doing it to show off.

“You need a certain CV to become the coach of the national team. I’ve had a chance with the U21s and to maybe win the European Championships, maybe the Olympics as well. At that point, I would have a bit more hope. I believe in meritocracy, not in luck. I’m here today because Gattuso resigned. If he hadn’t done, I wouldn’t be here.

“Sometimes I see Serie A teams appointing their Primavera coaches. I don’t agree with taking advantage of someone else’s misfortunes to get into the game. I will play these two matches, which I hope will help.

“I’ve called two senior level players like Donnarumma and Pio Esposito into the group because I see the possibility of having these players, also ahead of the Olympics. The two of them fall under this possibility.”

Baldini confirmed that Donnarumma was the only senior player to reach out to him and offer his availability in the wake of Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup and the subsequent resignation of Gattuso.

BERGAMO, ITALY – MARCH 26: Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy celebrates his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 European Qualifiers KO play-offs match between Italy and Northern Ireland at Stadio di Bergamo on March 26, 2026 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“Only Donnarumma contacted me giving me his availability and it didn’t seem real to me. The message is clear: Italian football wants to see change. I’m convinced that the boys will do very well. We’ve seen that it’s a cohesive group with the U21s and there is ample room for improvement.

“In addition, we also have the inclusion of two great players in Donnarumma and Pio Esposito.”

Was Baldini ‘disappointed’ by the fact that Donnarumma was the only Italy player to reach out to him?

“No, I think the wound was still too big after Bosnia,” Baldini replied. “Even if they had called me, I would have limited the call-ups to those two (Donnarumma and Esposito), with a view to my future work. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and not participate.”

Baldini was asked for his thoughts regarding the current state of Italian football as a whole.

He said: “Italian football is in the hands of directors who think about their own interests and not about the growth of the game. The aim is to do well on the transfer market with older players, not with younger players. I won’t hide away from it, these are things I’ve always said. Some people call them ‘swindlers’, and they often have the reins of the game in their hands. Without serious directors, it will continue to be a problem.”

But why is there such a ‘fear’ of giving opportunities to young players?

FLORENCE, ITALY – JANUARY 24: Marco Palestra of Cagliari Calcio reacts during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and Cagliari Calcio at Artemio Franchi on January 24, 2026 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“You get experience by playing. If the experience is limited to just a few games, your value remains low. At youth level, the national teams have always done well, but the problem is always the jump to the senior team. We need to let them play, but it’s not a problem for the federation, it’s a problem for the clubs.

“Where is the advantage in signing a 39-year-old player instead of finding one in the academy? As long as there are no serious people at the top of Italian clubs, it will still be a problem.

“We play slower on the pitch for the same reason. Youngsters bring enthusiasm, rhythm, speed. The older players tend to manage their efforts and attack less. Think about PSG or Aston Villa.”

Baldini on Italy’s upcoming friendlies

The focus began to shift towards the two matches that Italy have coming up over the next few weeks.

“These are two games that will fill us with pride,” Baldini insisted. “There’s no such thing as friendlies with the national team. You have to compare yourself with other nations. Even if there’s nothing at stake, there is still honour to play for. You have to have pride.

EMPOLI, ITALY – MARCH 26: Silvio Baldini manager of Italy U21 looks on during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

“For me, this is an unexpected prize. Fate has made things happen in the past and that’s why I find myself here.”

What are the best qualities of this current Italy group?

“They’re very united, they are pleased to be together, they laugh and joke together. They’re social, nobody isolates themselves. Some players told me that they would sign for a club for life if they could find the same joy they had with the U21s.

“Camarda came with us to the training camp before North Macedonia even though he was injured. He did it just for the sake of being with us. The other was Mane, but Borussia Dortmund wouldn’t release him.

“This means that it’s a healthy group, that the kids want to be helped. If we have this sort of material in our hands, we can’t make mistakes because this is our future.”

Baldini was asked who he thinks should be given the Italy national team head coach job on a permanent basis.

“I would go for a coach with a good resume, but it’s pointless to say names like Guardiola or Fabregas. We have a lot of good coaches in Italy, but I don’t want to name the names of Italian coaches. Those who feel they are able to have an impact. I hope that I can be hopeful to whoever comes in, not a hindrance.”

NAPLES, ITALY – MAY 24: Former SSC Napoli head coach Antonio Conte says his farewells to supporters after the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 24, 2026 in Naples, Italy. Conte is among the candidates linked with the vacant Italy national team head coach role. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

And what has Baldini told his Italy players heading into the June friendlies?

“I’ve asked them to be themselves, to play with enthusiasm, to think that they are the strongest. Life can be surprising sometimes, and they can’t miss this opportunity. They have to show that they are good players, but we need to be a team. So help your teammates when they are struggling.”

Many of Baldini’s young Italy players are currently playing outside of Italy: There are three from Borussia Dortmund alone.

“They get to see different leagues and cultures,” said Baldini. “What they all have in common is that they all love what they do. They’re all pure, they’re not distracted by money or success.”

And how does Baldini himself feel heading into this most rare of opportunities?

“The feeling was beautiful until yesterday. The wait was the most beautiful part because it was something I never thought I would do. I try to transfer my principles and respect onto the team. I set rules and I want them to be respected. There are no fines, for me, that’s reductive. It doesn’t make it clear that you’ve made a mistake. For me, if you’ve made a mistake, you go home.

Italy Under-21 coach Silvio Baldini (@azzurri)

“Young people know that I’m a credible, transparent and unfiltered person. I’ve explained to them that I’m not here to set rules or to be a dictator, but I want to make  them understand that without rules, there are no principles and without principles, there is no team.

“You have to have rules: Nutrition, waking up, going to the gym, recovering well. In general, dedicating everything to your body to get yourself in the best condition for the games, so you can express yourself at your best.”

Baldini insists Italy’s young squad is ready to make its mark

Baldini was asked which members of the current Italy squad are ‘ready’ for regular first-team call-ups.

He said: “If I’ve called them up, I’m convinced that they can win these two games, with freedom and without pressure. I know that they have great technical qualities.”

EMPOLI, ITALY – MARCH 26: Jeff Ekhator of Italy U21 celebrates after scoring the team’s third goal with Michael Kayode and Luca Kaleosho during the UEFA Under 21 EURO Qualifier match between Italy U21 and North Macedonia U21 at Stadio Carlo Castellani on March 26, 2026 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

And when asked for his response to the reports that the Greek federation were angered by Italy’s decision to name a youthful squad, given that they wanted a test against the experienced, senior side, Baldini said: “I won’t respond to the Greek coach, he can say what he wants. That’s his opinion.

“It amazes me that in the country where democracy was born, Greece, people care more about what others do.”

There is a risk that if Italy does not win its next two matches, the nation will drop further down the FIFA rankings.

“There is that risk, but nobody can predict what will happen in these games,” Baldini replied. “But what can I do? I’m not afraid of playing these games. I’m sure the boys can win them and I don’t see a problem.

“If I start with this idea of losing, I have no enthusiasm and I don’t transmit confidence, and the boys feel that.”