Cosmi: ‘Keep Baldini – he reaches people in a way that Italy desperately needs right now’ | OneFootball

Serse Cosmi has called for Silvio Baldini to be retained as Italy coach, insisting the interim manager has shown more vision and communicative ability in two press conferences than most coaches manage in a career, as the Azzurri navigate a defining moment following their third consecutive World Cup failure.

Speaking at the Benito Stirpe Live The Dream event, via TuttoMercatoWeb, the veteran coach was characteristically outspoken on a range of topics, but it was his passionate endorsement of Baldini that stood out.

“My judgment on the coach is biased, but I would keep Baldini because he said more in two press conferences than many others have in a hundred,” Cosmi said. “I would hold on to Baldini for now. A coach who communicates in that way should be with the national team because he reaches people.”

Crotone coach Serse Cosmi

Cosmi warns football in Italy lacks the right people in key roles as Baldini debate continues

Cosmi was equally direct on the broader failings of Italian football, placing blame not on the players or the grassroots game but on those in positions of power.

“I am drastic about this, what is missing is people,” he said.

“In Italy in this last decade the people involved have not shown themselves to be up to the standard of the movement. I mean the people involved, not those who are at the top.”

He also reflected on the disconnect between supporters and the modern game.

“People watch football in a different way compared to 30 or 40 years ago. The love for football still exists, but there are things to understand and review. Football cannot do without the public and the passion of supporters, when that is gone, there will be no more football.”

NAPLES, ITALY – FEBRUARY 21: Ezequiel Lavezzi (C) of Napoli celebrates with teammates Edinson Cavani (L) and Marek Hamsik (R) after scoring his team’s third goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and Chelsea FC at Stadio San Paolo on February 21, 2012 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Cosmi also revealed a near miss in the transfer market from earlier in his career, disclosing that he came close to signing Lavezzi for Genoa before the club’s relegation ended any chance of the deal.

“I watched enormous amounts of footage of Lavezzi that season,” he said with a smile. “But then Genoa went down, I went elsewhere and Lavezzi went to Napoli.”