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Gennaro Gattuso is confident that he can achieve great things with Italy, since the new head of Azzurri establishes the “fundamental” objective of qualifying for the World Cup.
Gattuso replaced Luciano Spalletti, who felt relieved of his duties after a terrible start to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, with Italy hammer 3-0 by Norway. Azzurri continued with a 2-0 victory over Moldova in the last game of Spalletti in charge.
Italy has not been classified for a World Cup since it came out in the group stage of the 2014 tournament, but the lack of arrival at the expanded finals of 48 teams would mark a new minimum.
However, Gattuso is inflexible that Italy has the quality of progress to the final, believing that the key lies in its mentality.
“This is a dream come true. I hope to live up to the task,” Gattuso told his introductory press conference.
“I know it will not be easy, but that is often the case in life. My staff and I are aware that a lot of work is coming, but we are sure that we can achieve something really great,” Gattuso said.
“There is a job to do. Know the players, talk to them, get in the head. I have been listening for years that there is no talent, but I think the players are there. We need to put them in the right conditions to perform at their best. The goal is to return to the World Cup. It is essential for American and Italian football.
“We need to rediscover enthusiasm and stop thinking negatively. When players come to Coverciano, they must do it with emotion.
“Creating a family is the most important thing. Beyond tactics and technique, we need to rebuild that group spirit that has defined us for so many years.
“We have important players; four or five in this group are among the top ten in the world in their roles.
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“I will repeat it. This is the team, not the individuals. I am convinced that this team has values and can achieve its goal. When (Gianluigi) Buffon and (Gabriele) Gravina called me, I did not hesitate for a second. I think we have what is needed to succeed.
“To miss two consecutive World Cup editions is not easy to swallow. That is why we must rediscover enthusiasm; fear does not lead anywhere.”
Gattuso has already trained in Italian national football and Switzerland, Greece, Spain, France and Croatia.
His most recent work was in Croatia with Hajduk, who finished third in the highest Croatian category in his only season, two points behind the Rijaka champions.
The lonely trophy of Gattuso as coach came with Napoli in the Coppa Italia 2019-20.
When asked about his history, Gattuso replied: “In Hajduk, after 19 years, we fight for the title with a team full of young people.
“It depends on how things are informed. Only a team wins the league, but it is essential to see the work done. Does the team grew or not?”
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Growth is a key goal for Gattuso, a member of the Italy team who won the 2006 World Cup under Marcello Lippi.
Among the problems inherited is one relative to the center of the center of Milan, Francesco Acerbi, who refused to play with Spalletti.
“I hope to do what Marcello did. Not necessarily lift the trophy, but to create that chemistry in the costumes,” Gattuso explained.
“I want to rebuild that sense of belonging. I want to see the players get to Coverciano smiling and feel good. I need to interact with the team effectively. Times have changed. We need to enter their heads correctly. It’s not about waiting for them to change, we are the ones who know us halfway.
“We need to understand why a player refuses to play. The first thing I asked the president and Buffon was: anyone who comes to Coverciano must stay, even if he has a minor problem.
“We have everything in their place to treat them. To be credible and avoid excuses. If you are called a player, he stays in Coverciano, just like when I played. If we cannot obtain them healthy, then they return to their club. What matters the most is spending time together. The players usually suffer minor injuries when they play 50 or 60 games a year, but we cannot start establishing dangerous precedents.
“There are always challenging moments in the field; if someone does not run the additional patio, it becomes difficult. We need to change this mentality. We must be able to tell us the difficult truths. We can only grow in this way.”
