Gatuso Adamáman Italia has the quality to avoid a failure in the third straight World Cup
Gennaro Gattuso is confident that he can achieve great things in Italy as he aims to the “basic” goal of the new Azzurri boss playing in the World Cup.
Gatuso was released from duties following the horrifying start to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, replacing Luciano Spalletti, who was hammered 3-0 in Norway. Azzurri followed with a 2-0 victory over Moldova in the final match of Spalletti.
Italy has not qualified for the World Cup since being sent out in the group stage of the 2014 tournament, but will receive a new low as they failed to reach the expanded 48-team final.
But Gatuso has the quality to help Italy advance to the finals.
“This is a dream come true. I hope I’m taking on the job,” Gatuso told his introductory secretary.
“I know it’s not easy, but it’s often the case in life. My staff and I know there’s a lot of work ahead, but I’m sure we can achieve something really great,” Gatuso said.
“There’s work to do. You meet players, talk to them, you get into your mind. I’ve heard they’re not talented for years, 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 go back to the World Cup. That’s fundamental for us and Italian football.
“We need to rediscover our enthusiasm and stop thinking negatively. When players come to CoverCiano, they need to be excited and do so.
“Building a family is paramount. Beyond tactics and techniques, we need to reconstruct the spirit of the group that has defined us for many years.
“We have important players, four or five of this group are the top 10 in the world in their roles.
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“I repeat that. It’s about the team, not the individual. I’m sure this team has value and can achieve its goals.
“It’s not easy to miss two World Cup editions in a row, so we have to rediscover our enthusiasm. Fear doesn’t lead to anywhere.”
Gattuso has already coached Italian domestic football and Switzerland, Greece, Spain, France and Croatia.
His most recent job was in Croatia with Hajduk, who finished third in Croatia’s top flight in his only season, two points behind Champions Rijeka.
At 2019-20 Coppa Italia, Gattuso’s only major trophy as a coach came with Napoli.
Asked about his record, Gattuso replied. “In Hajduk, 19 years later, we fought for the title with a team full of young people.
“It depends on how things are reported. There’s only one team that wins the league, but it’s essential to see the work done. Has the team grown?”
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Growth is an important objective for Gatuso, a member of the Italian side who won the World Cup under Marcelo Lippi in 2006.
Some of the issues he inherits include Inter Milan’s centre-back Francescoervi, who refused to play under Sparetti.
“I hope Marcello can do what he’s done. He’s not necessarily lifting the trophy, he’s creating that chemistry in the locker room,” explained Gatuso.
“I want to rebuild that sense of belonging. I want to see players smile at Caucciano and feel better. I need to interact effectively with the team. Times have changed. We need to get right into their heads.
“We need to understand why players refuse to play. The first thing I asked the president was that people who come to Caucciano must stay, even if they have slight problems.
“We have everything in place to treat them. It’s reliable and to avoid excuses. If the player is called, he will stay in CoverCiano just like when I played. If they can’t make them healthy, they can go back to the club.
“There are always challenging moments on the pitch. It’s difficult if someone doesn’t run through the extra yard. We need to change this way of thinking. We must be able to tell each other difficult truths. We can only grow this way.”