"I am fired up, I feel the responsibility on my shoulders, but I am not scared at all. I want the players to feel a sense of belonging, enthusiasm, and desire to sacrifice themselves for their teammates,"
"We have to be strong. We can't panic if the score is still 0-0 after 10 minutes. We need to be a team, to fight blow for blow... History shows that we've never lacked character, and we have to bring that back."
"I called them up because I think Fabbian is very similar to [Davide] Frattesi; he fills the penalty area well and has physicality,"
"Pio's qualities are unquestionable and we see them, and Leoni is the same - a young player born in 2006 with great personality and impressive bursts of speed. I didn't give them anything; I called them up because I think they have very specific characteristics."
Gennaro Gattuso will take charge of Italy for the first time in a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Estonia after replacing Luciano Spalletti following poor results, including a 3-0 defeat to Norway. Italy missed the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and face mounting pressure after losing one of their first two qualifiers. The team has two games in hand on Group I leaders Norway but must win all four remaining matches to top the group and avoid a playoff. Gattuso demands character, sacrifice and composure, and has called up youngsters Giovanni Leoni, Giovanni Fabbian and Francesco Pio Esposito.
Read at Soccer News
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