Italian
The new Gattuso era has officially begun. The new Head Coach of the Italian national football team was introduced in the presence of Buffon and Gravina.
ROME – The official era of Gennaro Ivan Gattuso begins. Whether it will be the right choice, we will find out in a few months. What this team of disenchanted players certainly needs is someone who can bring the players back down to earth and make the team fall in love with the Azzurri colors again, winning over all the fans as well.
Ringhio was immediately very specific about this: no more minor aches, everyone stays together in Coverciano. A bit like what Federico Gatti did during the last two World Cup qualifying matches. Coming back from a fracture and with very few minutes of play, he still stayed with the team, despite a shortage of defenders.
The new Coach certainly won’t be able to play in place of his players, but he can definitely change their mindset. Someone who would have tied himself to the National team’s bus just to participate in the victorious 2006 World Cup can only be the right wake-up call and the example to follow. Not to mention his proverbial determination and maybe even a few good slaps.
Certainly, there is a shortage of Italian players, with the Italian league full of foreigners. Yet our youth National Teams are among the best in the world. The issue is that there are still too few reserve teams, and talents get lost between loans to lower divisions and too many benches. Not to mention that even if a phenomenon like Lamine Yamal were to emerge in Italy, he would most likely not play for his own club, let alone the National Team.
Now, after the first two matches of the qualifying round for the next World Cup, the situation is already dire following the 3-0 defeat against Norway and the poor victory against Moldova with a score of 2-0, only useful for the points but not for the goal difference. The task of the 23rd unique National Team Head Coach in history will be to try to bring Italy to the World Cup at all costs. This means first and foremost changing the mentality completely and then winning all the remaining matches, preferably with a comfortable margin of goals.
It already seems like a daunting task, but Gattuso has accustomed us to much more. Furthermore, he will not be alone. Alongside him in the staff will be Leonardo Bonucci, while former national team coach Cesare Prandelli will instead lead a new path that will be developed together with Gianluca Zambrotta and Simone Perrotta, acting as a link between Club Italy, the Youth National Teams, the Youth and School Sector, and the Technical Sector. Another 2006 Champion, Andrea Barzagli, will also be involved by their side.
The path seems to be the right one, now all that remains is to let them work and try to reap the rewards starting from the opening matches on September 5th in Bergamo against Estonia, and then on the 8th in Debrecen against Israel. The second window will be in October with the same opponents but in reversed venues. In November, the last two matches will be in Moldova and then at home against Norway.
The words of the Neo CT
Here are the words spoken at the press conference by the new National Team Head Coach Gennaro Ivan “Ringhio” Gattuso:
“It’s a dream come true and I hope to live up to the role. The task is not easy, but there is nothing easy in life. We know there is a lot to do, but we also have the awareness that we can do a great job. There’s not much to say, there’s work to be done, going around and talking to the players, conveying positive things to them, getting into their heads. I’ve been hearing for many years that in Italy we don’t have talent, but I believe the players are there: we need to put them in a position to express themselves to the fullest. The goal is to bring Italy back to the World Cup and it is essential to do it for us, for our football, and for our country. We have the gifts and the qualities to do it.
The National team needs enthusiasm and a desire to be together in difficult moments, to be united. Those who come to Coverciano must do so with enthusiasm, to create a family: formations, technique, and tactics matter, but the priority is to have a strong group again and that mentality that has distinguished us for years.
Upon receiving the call, I didn’t hesitate for a moment, also because I am convinced of having a strong team: not individual players, but a team. Being out of the World Cup twice is tough for everyone, because the National team jersey is heavy and managing the pressure is not easy. Yet, the word fear must not exist, because with that you don’t go anywhere. My work in the National team will change, the daily routine will be different from that in the club, but football is my life: when I wake up I can’t wait to talk about football. In this initial period, I will put pressure on my colleagues in Serie A and those abroad where there are eligible players: the goal is to talk to the players, watch the games, taking trains and planes and going to search for the best profiles.
“We have to be good at reacting, only by reacting can we get out of this situation. With the players we will try to create a family, always telling each other things to our faces, even the ones that are harder to hear. We need to be united because on the field, in difficult moments, feeling alone is the worst thing, when you don’t hear the voice and help of a teammate, 90 minutes become endless. We need to change this aspect here and help each other.”
I have only thought about things to do and responsibilities, but hearing my parents so excited was special. The phone call with Lippi? I hope to do what he did: not raise the cup, but rather recreate that alchemy of the locker room, return to that sense of belonging, see players who come to Coverciano with a smile, who are doing well. It will be important to get into the players’ heads, speaking, dialoguing, and discussing: each of them is different and it is us ‘elders’ who must meet their needs by listening to them.
At this moment Serie A tells us that 40% of teams are playing with a 3-man defense and the rest with 4, but it’s not a matter of formations, we need to put the players in the right positions and, with a view to qualification, adjust the goal difference, so scoring is important, having a team that likes to stay in the opponent’s half, giving them the opportunity to create and harm the opponents. Formations at this moment are not crucial: what’s most important is how we want to be on the field and in training I want people who run at full speed without holding back.
Photo Credits: Figc.it
