Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal star Ricardo Calafiori has joked he is closer to Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso than his own mother at this point.
Tuttosport cover comments from the Arsenal defender today amid Gattuso’s efforts to unite the Italy squad before the international break.
The Azzurri head into this break needing to win two consecutive wins to make the World Cup this summer.
Gattuso’s side face Northern Ireland in the play-off semi-final on Thursday before a potential final against Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Gattuso’s push for unity
Gattuso has been working hard to unite the squad before the key week. That includes recently organising a dinner among the players.
His efforts have already been praised by Newcastle star Sandro Tonali. Now Arsenal defender Calafiori has shared his feelings too.
“I really appreciated the coach’s behaviour with us and with me,” he said.
“I’ve been closer to him than with my mother in recent months. I’m shy, and he was good at being there for me, at a time when it was useful because I’ve been playing less and away.
“That dinner with Gattuso was nice, just being there and talking. We haven’t had much time to train these past few months, but the important thing is to be together.
“I think he paid the bill (laughs). It was an evening with friends, where we talked about football and other things. Buffon and Bonucci shared a few anecdotes and experiences.”
Fitness and form at Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori has had doubts around his fitness and form in Italy, but he wanted to dismiss that. In addition, the 23-year-old explained that with Arsenal matches coming quickly, the Gunners emphasis has been on recovery.
“I’m fine, we’ll see how I get on the pitch today, but I’m fine,” he said.
“In the Premier League, the most important training is the match, especially for a team like ours that always plays twice a week. We train very little. I don’t know the statistics, but the impression is that there are few dead moments on the pitch.”
Pressure into courage
The Arsenal defender has also insisted that he and his Italy teammates must turn any fear into courage, with fan expectations high.
“It’s all in how you look at this match,” he added.
“It’s a responsibility; when you wear this jersey, there are millions of people cheering for you. But I see it as an opportunity, a chance to go to the World Cup, which is something we’ve dreamed of since we were kids. I can’t wait to play.”
The reality for Italy, though, is that the pressure is on. They have now qualified for the World Cup since 2014. It’s undeniably a significant drop for a country who are four-time champions.
The failure to qualify for the last two editions also came via losses in the play-offs, to Sweden and North Macedonia. This then, needs to be third time lucky, or the pressure and scrutiny will be on Gattuso and his squad like never before.
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