Gattuso: ‘Italy will have nowhere with quality alone, are the masters of Grit’

Gennaro Gattuso warns Italy “He won’t get anywhere from the quality itself,” so they should discover the combat spirit that they were “masters” over the years.

The coach could not ask for a better result on his debut, Cleaning Estonia aside 5-0 in Bergamo.

However, it takes up to 58. minutes to break down the mate of Maise Kean, followed by Mateo Retegey Brace, Giacomo Risks and Alessandro Bastoni goals.

“I was afraid to take a break at 0-0, the team would be tense after restarting, but instead they kept the same attitude. The guys dealt really well.”

Bergamo, Italy – 05. September: Trainer Gennaro Gattuso of Italy Gesta during FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifications between a match between Italy and Estonia at Bergamo Stadium 5. September 2025. in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Osbot / Getty Images)

It was a radical change from Ere Luciano Spalletttti, she embraced 4-2-3-1 formation with Kean, Retequi, Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Polanoano.

“We knew we had to risk some risks, leaving one to one situation at a counter attack, because we had so much forward on the field” Gattuso said Ski Sport Italy.

“It was important for the ball to put down the hips, they attack their channels, and we were happy that we have not achieved the result earlier. We congratulations on the boys, because three days we had an incredible atmosphere in training.

“As I always said, this team has quality, but you don’t get anywhere with the quality yourself. This team must work all hard, hit the hunger, show the hunger and I think we’ve seen it all today.”

It was the first time Kean and Retregui began together Italy Jersey.

“Sometimes you can do, not in other situations, we’ve already rated it. The team snuggled with full back. It’s natural that the level of the opposition increases, when the level of the opposition increases, we also need to be more careful and concentrated.”

Bergamo, Italy – 05. September: Gennaro Gattuso, Chief Coach of Italy During National Hymns before FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier matches between Italy and Estonia at Bergamo Stadium 5. September 2025. in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Osbot / Getty Images)

Gattuso said he would not have time to get emotionally on his Italy Debitent as a coach, but his singing national anthem showed the same old passion to win World Cup 2006 as a player.

“I got emotional on the anthem. I decided to leave players alone during warming and leave the field, because I talked so much in the last few days, I went on my nerves.

“There’s a lot of pressure, I feel it, it’s normal, but I’m trying to experience it in a positive way. I arrived from the first day of me and my staff from the first day, the atmosphere was wonderful.”

Gattuso was asked when he went to sleep tonight, what is the picture that will pass through his mind?

“Hug with my assistants, as we are now throughout life, but it is a sports suffering, not real suffering. We also had a few shamers during the years, so we hugged Gigi Buffon and Leo Bonucci.”

At the press conference, the coach also had a special commitment to his family on the stalls.

“I could hear my mother’s voice from the balcony when I played on the street. I also dedicate it to my wife, because it was in 1997. It was 28 years old. I know what I put through all this year, so commitment to her and our children.

Bergamo, Italy – 05. September: Gennaro Gattuso, Chief Coach of Italy During National Hymns before FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier matches between Italy and Estonia at Bergamo Stadium 5. September 2025. in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Mattia Osbot / Getty Images)

Bastoni and Risks said in their post-match interviews That gattuso also gave them metaphorical and literal whisper during training.

“I want to clarify I didn’t hit anyone,” Gattuso laughed.

“I just want a team that works hard, because quality is not enough, we need to have that extra pressure, additional word, additional word to your teammates. We must suffer to get to home. Italy They were masters in that and we have to discover that spirit again. “

Italy continues to play up with the group leaders of Norway, who have 100 percent of record 12 points after playing four games.

Their next opponents of Israel also consolidated second place with the windy victory of 4: 0 in Moldova.

They will go to the head on a neutral lawn in Debrecen, Hungary, Monday night.

Playing against Israel at the moment is at the moment at this point, especially after calling them to suspend the UEFA and FIFA through the Gaza situation.

“I am a man of peace and it is awful to see civilian and children through that,” Gattus replied.

“We’re just happy to have Israel in our group, we can’t do much about it. What we see is painful, that’s all I can say.”