Gattuso, pre-Moldova-Italy conference: “Scamacca and Raspadori as starters”

Rino Gattuso doesn’t give gifts and doesn’t want a different result than the victory in Moldova. Although a success for Norway against Estonia, who will play tomorrow at 6pm, could make our result useless. “I remember when with Lippi we played here in Moldova (September 2004, 1-0 success thanks to a goal by Del Piero, ed.) – said Rino – and it wasn’t easy, just as it won’t be tomorrow. There weren’t any easy matches before and there aren’t any now. It takes great respect because if you don’t have respect for your opponents it’s tough. Whoever has Norway’s 11-1 win against this Moldova in their head is wrong. Moldova doesn’t it’s 11-1… If we replay that match 10 times, it’s unlikely that that result will be repeated. In Reggio Emilia (the last match of the Spalletti era, ed.) we sweated and worked hard: tomorrow it takes commitment and respect for the opponents: I know Ionita and what they do he did in Italy. We prepared the match on Moldova and not on the individual.”

training

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Gattuso then spoke about the lineup: “I confirm that there will be changes and I will make them without fear because I have faith in my players: everyone deserves an evening like tomorrow. I want to thank the group because I thought certain things could happen and instead there was a great sense of belonging to Coverciano. We know how it works and that there are many matches in this period in which individuals have a high playing time… Instead we are continuing on the right path. Barella (suspended against Moldova, ed.), for example, could have chiedere di venire a Milanello e invece è qui con noi. Tutti vogliono stare con i compagni e crescere come gruppo, stando insieme. Non è tutto dovuto. Gabbia? Non partirà dall’inizio, ma l’obiettivo è dare minutaggio anche a lui. In porta? Spazio per Vicario e con Donnarumma in panchina. In attacco, invece, ci saranno Scamacca e Raspadori: saranno loro due a partire dall’inizio, ma non deve strafare perché conosciamo le caratteristiche e la balistica di Scamacca. Sappiamo cosa he can give us: he must stay calm and play a serious game. The opinion has spread that he could only play 60-65 minutes. He has done his best to get rid of this label and he has been offering important performances for a while. Tomorrow, I repeat, there will be many changes and Dimarco will be someone who will rest. We will give a great performance because I am convinced of the abilities of whoever is here. Whoever takes the field is because they deserve it.”

pride

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The coach then praised Sinner: “Sinner fills me with pride, but so does Musetti: yesterday we were on the sofa with my collaborators and we stayed until midnight to watch Musetti’s victory. Sport gives emotion when someone represents our flag. For me, however, it is also a source of pride to know that 6-7 million people watch Italy every match: it is a fact that I always ask for. We want to make people fall in love again. That attachment to the shirt and that desire for blue does not they must never be missing: from the people I also hear them when I go around the stadiums or on the street. We all have the desire to see Italy at the World Cup. Honestly: my mind goes to tomorrow’s match and I don’t want to see the improvement and I expect another important performance from everyone.”