Gattuso’s press conference: Every word Italy coach said on Norway, Chiesa, Tonali and more

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso held a press conference at Coverciano ahead of games against Moldova and Norway in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Football Italia was among the accredited media at Italy’s training centre; below you can read every word the Azzurri boss said.

APPROACH – “Surely, it won’t be easy. I want to see the utmost commitment and continue on the path we started in September. Surely, in the first game, we’ll use some players who haven’t had much playing time. We must think about ourselves and be ready.”

MORE TIME TO PREPARE FOR PLAYOFFS IN 2026 – “This morning, we prepared the job until Janaury 15-16, I’ll go to Saudi Arabia to watch the Supercup. We’ve prepared the plan to cover as many games as possible and continue watching games.

“[The get-together] can’t be done. We might be able to find some time in February to stay here for one or two days, hopefully. The schedules are full. We’ll have to do our best, go visit the players, have dinner with them and manage it that way. We’re working on it. Serie A is also trying to help us, but it’s very difficult. We’re at Matchday 11 and we’ll again around Matchday 30. It’s a very long time, we know it, that’s the situation.”

CHIESA – “I often talk to him. We have to respect the decisions and problems that each of us has. We know well what we tell each other, and I must respect what the player tells me. I can’t say anything else.” Is it the player’s decision then? “Yes, it’s already the fourth or fifth time that I’m explaining this.”

IDENTITY – “I believe that when a team can play with more than one system, it’s great. We’ll use two different formations.”

PLAYERS NOT CALLED UP – “People like Zaniolo and Palestra, and many other players, have done interesting things. Then, the selections are based on certain criteria, and I like to work with those who have been here before for some time, but the doors of Coverciano are open to everyone. Berardi? Nobody questions his qualities; we know him well. I know what he can give us, but I have decisions to make. We’ll see.”

MIDFIELD – “Barella is with us, he’s suspended in the first game. I spoke to Tonali 10 days ago; surely we can’t afford to miss an important player like him for the semifinals. I think it’s difficult that he’ll play against Norway. Regista? Locatelli can play there, Ricci too. We have it. Locatelli is a natural playmaker, Ricci can also play as a mezzala.”

INTENSITY IN ITALIAN FOOTBALL – “I have my idea, the problem is that tactics dominate our league because there are well-prepared coaches who prepare for games incredibly. There is little space, and it’s hard to play in open spaces, like in other leagues. This means we have to play differently.”

KEAN’S INJURY – “He played a cup game with Fiorentina last week; they took a risk, and he picked up a knock. We are sorry we lost him, but we have strong strikers who have already helped us and we expect a lot from them.”

SERIE A – “When I watch games, I must focus on players, not the game itself. It’s hard to play in Serie A because there are tactical masters, and it’s the biggest issue. If we talk about intensity, it’s always low because it’s the ball that must move quickly and it’s hard with short passes in tight spaces. I have a lot of fun when a team must get back in a game, so there are more spaces and players start doing something different.”

MOLDOVA – “There are no more easy games. The trap is always around the corner, and I expect a tough game. My players know it.”

SCAMACCA – “He has nothing to prove; he knows what I want to see during training sessions, but if he’s here, it’s because I strongly believe in him. He’s had serious injuries, but he can do important things, so I expect him to do things properly; he has nothing to prove; he must only see what his teammates are doing. He wants to put in as little effort as possible because he wants to make use of his shooting skills, but he’s got them.”

STRIKERS – “Many midfielders go on the wings in the build-up, and if you prepare for games this way, with central midfielders moving wide, it’s hard to bring the ball inside the box. Many teams have been built this way. This is the problem.”

SERIE A COACHES – “Honestly, I like the courage of Italiano and Gasperini. Look at Mancini in the last 2-3 games, he looks like Cafu! Likewise, Italiano has no fear. He and Gasperini bring four or five players in the final third; they don’t fear the one-v-one defensively. I must congratulate them.”

YOUTH TEAMS – “We had an important meeting 20 days ago with Maurizio, Gigi and all the people working in the federation, and I must say that the work of the last few years has been incredible, but we must not lose our young players.

“I was talking about this with Gigi [Buffon] the other day. As footballers, we didn’t win much with the Italy youth teams; now it’s the other way around. There’s a lot of material, and I think the work at a youth level has been great. Now we must be good at raising the bar and not stop them at the U19 squad. We must give them a chance to grow and make mistakes.

“We have a problem, we immediately come to conclusions, and in my experience, you can’t do so until they are 21 or 22. We need patience. This is what my experience abroad has taught me.”

CALAFIORI – “He’s not just a left-back, he plays in more than one role. He recognises the spaces and knows how to move. He’s a smart player, he can play anywhere. Left-back, centre-back, central midfielder. He can do anything.”

ROTATIONS – “I expect them to give their best. I want to see the utmost commitment, the desire to improve as a team.”

SPALLETTI – “I spoke to Spalletti, I congratulated him. He asked me if I needed anything, but I just called him to wish him good luck.”

CONTE – “Napoli have a great coach, who has won a lot and knows how to move. I’ve worked for 19 months in Naples, and it’s never easy to confirm yourself after winning. I think Antonio has the strength to react to this negative moment. I mean, negative…if you look at the table, they are all there.”

MOLDOVA AND NORWAY – “The first game is more important to me. The second one will get prepared by itself. We know Norway can cause trouble for us; we must decide whether to press or sit deep. They have quality and physicality. We were unlucky to find a Norway that is playing great football, but I still think that the game to prepare well mentally is the one against Moldova.”

DEFENDERS – “Football has changed. Today, you play on reference points. Only Sarri defends as a unit. We’ve gone this way for a few years, also abroad. It becomes a different sport. We can say that today there are important players who don’t know how to win aerial duels; there’s no more work on the wall to improve technique. That’s what we must talk about, not about defenders not being able to defend anymore, because football has gone in a different way.”

GABBIA AND MILENELLO – “I spent 14-15 years at Milanello. I have memories, but I’m not excited [to return]. There are so many things to think about. As for Gabbia, I also told him, he’s a lad who has grown a lot. I like the way he plays and how he trains. I knew he was a serious guy, but I have to say that he’s really improved in recent years, and he’s doing things seriously. When a player is humble and understands this, it’s already a great value.”

ATTACK – “It’s true, he [Scamacca] is not as dynamic as Pio or Retegui right now, but Retegui, Pio, and Moise like to move and don’t give reference points. It doesn’t change much; there isn’t an ideal striker partner. Both Pio and Retegui have dynamism.”

SERIE A, AGAIN – “When I congratulated Italiano and Gasperini…this is high-level football. It’s undeniable that in the Premier League, they play a different sport because of their financial strength, but our league is tough. If you are good at preparing the game tactically…we have incredible coaches, very well prepared. If you don’t invent a move, it’s hard to win games.

“There’s another important thing. In every game, there are just a couple of players to watch. It means 60-65 players [can be called up], this is the most difficult thing, not the quality of the league.”

PIO ESPOSITO AND RASPADORI – “He [Pio Esposito] can’t afford to make any mistakes, because he’s only 20 and still has to prove himself. Raspadori also falls into this category. I think he’s a great player, and the fact that he plays so little pains me. These are our issues. Certainly, having some nicer stadiums would help too.”