Coach Silvio Baldini said he is “convinced” that Italy’s young squad is ready to beat Greece and Luxembourg in friendlies in June, spoke out on who should be given the role of head coach of the national team permanently and gave his opinion on the current state of Italian football as a whole.
Baldini was called up as interim coach of the Italian national team. Gennaro Gattuso’s resignation Immediately after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup playoff final at the end of May.
Baldini was tasked with leading the Italian national team to friendly matches at the beginning of June, and the Under-21 coach named a squad made up mainly of young talent with whom he had previously worked.
of Team of 24 selected by BaldiniGianluigi Donnarumma, Marco Palestra, Niccolò Pisilli and Francesco Pio Esposito are the only players to have ever been capped for Italy’s first team.
In a press conference on Friday, coach Baldini explained his decision to choose a young team, spoke about the need to play with pride, the changes that need to take place at club level to help the national team, and the next incumbent candidate for the Italian CT.
Baldini talks about his surprise phone call to Italy and the current state of Italian football
“I think you need a certain resume to coach the Italian national team, and I don’t have it,” Baldini admitted at the beginning of the press conference (via TMW). “I’ve seen a lot of fans feel the change and support it, but I’m not doing it to show off.
“You need a certain resume to be a national team manager. I had a chance with the U21 team, maybe a chance to win the European Championship, maybe even the Olympics. I might have had a little more hope then. I believe in meritocracy, not luck. I’m here today because Gattuso resigned. If he hadn’t resigned, I wouldn’t be here.”
“Sometimes you see Serie A teams appoint primavera coaches. I don’t agree with taking advantage of someone else’s misfortune to play a match. I will play these two games and I hope it helps.”
“We called up two senior-level players, like Donnarumma and Pio Esposito, into the group because we think there is a possibility to acquire these players ahead of the Olympics, and these two fall under this possibility.”
Baldini admitted that Donnarumma was the only senior player who contacted him and offered him an opportunity to play after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup and Gattuso subsequently resigned.
“Donnarumma was the only one who contacted me to inform me of his availability, but it didn’t seem real to me. The message is clear: Italian football wants change. I’m sure the players will do very well. We’ve seen that it’s a cohesive group with the U21 team and there’s plenty of room for improvement.”
“We will also be adding two great players, Donnarumma and Pio Esposito.”
Was Baldini “disappointed” by the fact that Donnarumma was the only Italian player who contacted him?
“No, I think the wound was still too great even after Bosnia,” Baldini answered. “If they had called me, I would have limited the call to those two (Donnarumma and Esposito) because of my future career. Sometimes it’s better to wait and not participate.”
Baldini was asked for his thoughts on the current state of Italian football as a whole.
He said: “Italian football is in the hands of managers who think about their own interests, not the growth of the game. The goal is to do well in the transfer market with older players, not younger players. I will not run away from that, this is what I have always said. Some call them ‘crooks’, and they often take the reins of the game. Without serious managers, the problems will continue.”
But why is there so much fear in giving young players a chance?
“By playing, you gain experience. If that experience is limited to just a few games, your value remains low. At youth level, the national team has always done well, but the question is always the jump to the first team. We need them to play, but it’s not a federation problem, it’s a club problem.”
“What’s the point in signing a 39-year-old instead of finding a player in the academy? Unless there is serious talent at the top of Italian clubs, it will still be an issue.
“For the same reason, we play slowly on the pitch. Young players bring enthusiasm, rhythm and speed. Older players tend to manage effort and reduce attacking power. Think PSG or Aston Villa.”
Baldini talks about upcoming Italy friendly matches
The focus now shifts to Italy’s two games in the coming weeks.
“These two games are proud matches for us,” Baldini emphasized. “There is no such thing as a friendly match with the national team. You have to compare yourself to other countries. Even if nothing is at stake, it is an honor to play. You have to be proud.”
“For me, this is an unexpected prize. Fate made things happen in the past and that’s why I’m here.”
What is the best thing about this current Italian group?
“They are very united, they are happy to be together, they laugh and joke together. They are sociable and none of them are isolated. Some players have told me that if they could find the same joy as they did in the Under-21s, they would stay with the club for life.”
“Camarda came with us to the training camp before North Macedonia even though he was injured. He did it just to be with us. The other one was Mane, but Borussia Dortmund didn’t let him go. He was Mane.”
“This means it’s a healthy group and kids are asking for help. With this kind of material at hand, you can’t go wrong, because this is our future.”
Baldini was asked who he thought should be given the permanent job as Italy’s head coach.
“I would look for a manager with a good CV, but there’s no point in saying names like Guardiola or Fabregas. There are a lot of good managers in Italy, but I don’t want to name Italian managers. It’s a manager who feels he can have an impact. I hope whoever comes in can be a hope and not a hindrance.”
And what did Baldini say to the Italian players ahead of June’s friendly?
“I’ve asked them to be themselves, to play with enthusiasm, to think they’re the best. Sometimes life is surprising and you can’t let this opportunity pass you by. They have to show they’re good players, but we need to be a team. So help your teammates when they’re struggling.”
Many of Baldini’s young Italian players are currently playing outside Italy, with three from Borussia Dortmund alone.
“They get to see different leagues and cultures,” Baldini said. “What they all have in common is that they love what they do. They’re all genuine and don’t care about money or success.”
And how does Baldini himself feel heading into this most rare of opportunities?
“Up until yesterday, I felt great. Waiting was the most beautiful thing, because it was something I never thought I would do. I try to convey my principles and respect to the team. I have set rules and I want them to be respected. There are no fines. For me it’s a reduction. It doesn’t make it clear that I made a mistake. For me, if you make a mistake, go home.”
“Young people know that I’m trustworthy, transparent and unfiltered. I’ve explained that I’m not here to dictate the rules or be a dictator, but I want them to understand that without rules there are no principles and without principles there is no team.”
“You need rules. Eat your nutrition, wake up, go to the gym, recover well. In general, giving everything to your body to get it in the best possible shape for the competition will allow you to be the best version of yourself.”
Baldini insists Italy’s young team is ready to make its mark
Baldini was asked which members of the current Italian squad are “ready” to receive a regular call-up to the first team.
“I’m sure that if I had called them, they would be able to win these two games freely and without pressure. I know they have great technical qualities,” he said.
Asked to react to reports that the Greek federation was furious at Italy’s decision to appoint a young team despite wanting to test against an experienced first team, Baldini said: “I will not answer to the Greek coach. He can say what he wants. That is his opinion.”
“I was surprised that in Greece, a country where democracy was born, people care more about what others do.”
If Italy do not win their next two games, they risk falling further down the FIFA rankings.
“There is a risk, but no one can predict what will happen in this match,” Baldini replied. “But what can I do? I’m not afraid to play these matches. I’m confident the boys can win and I don’t think there will be any problems.”
“If you start with the idea of losing, you don’t have any enthusiasm, you don’t convey confidence, and the players feel that, too.”
post navigation
