On Thursday, Gennaro Gattuso was presented as Italy’s new national coach in Rome. The 2006 World Cup winner did not mince his words and announced his first change.
So it’s up to a World Cup winner to put things right. On Thursday, Gennaro Gattuso was officially presented as the new Italian national coach in the capital Rome. And one of the heroes of 2006 clearly doesn’t want to waste any time in finally turning things around in Italy.
Gattuso has already made his first major change. “Everyone who comes to the training center in Coverciano has to stay, even if they have a minor injury. That was the first thing I asked the president and Buffon,“ reported the 47-year-old.
Gattuso’s core message was ‘hidden’ in this statement. ”The most important thing is to spend time together and form a family,“ said the former midfield terrier: ”I hope I can achieve what Marcello Lippi achieved in 2006. I don’t necessarily have to win the World Cup, but I do want to bring the chemistry back to the dressing room. I want to restore that feeling of belonging. I want the players to come to Coverciano with a smile and a good feeling.“
”I hope I’m up to the task”
Gattuso spoke of a “dream come true. I hope I’m up to the task. I know it won’t be easy, but that’s often the case in life. My team and I are aware of that, but we’re confident that we can achieve something really great.”
What will he be paying particular attention to in the national team? “To be honest, I wouldn’t put the old Gattuso in the team I want to build today,” he said candidly. Other qualities are needed these days. Gattuso wants to give young players a chance in particular: “This year, 68 percent of Serie A players were foreign professionals—a figure that should give us pause for thought. We have to give our own young players a chance.”
35 players have already been called
Gattuso, who will be adding Leonardo Bonucci to his staff, has already contacted a total of 35 players. He named one of them and suggested a transfer more directly than indirectly: “I also spoke to Chiesa and told him that he needs to find a way to establish himself and play consistently. That goes for everyone.”
Federico Chiesa, one of the 2021 European champions, is also in a slump due to ongoing injury problems and made only 466 minutes of appearances in 14 competitive games for Premier League champions Liverpool last season.
Meanwhile, the new national team coach deliberately did not call up 37-year-old Inter defender Francesco Acerbi, who had ruled out playing under Gattuso’s predecessor Luciano Spalletti. “He has made an important contribution to football. There has been a lot of talk, but that’s not an issue that concerns me. I make my decisions—and even though I have no problem with him, I didn’t call him. I opted for younger players who I believe can help us more at this point in time.”
The main thing is to create a spirit of optimism after missing out on two World Cups. “Fear leads to nothing,” said Gattuso, who wants to back up his words with actions in his debut against Estonia on September 5.
