Gennaro Gattuso charts the course: national team coach speaks out ahead of 2026
For Gennaro Gattuso it will undoubtedly be a special Christmas, his first as national team technical commissioner: a role that the former midfielder lives with pride and responsibility, which he recounted in an interview with Vivo Azzurro Tv. “I am proud to represent my country” he tells, recalling how much his experience as a player marked his relationship with the Azzurri jersey. The reference remains Marcello Lippi, a true master in the words of ‘Ringhio’: “Since I have been technical commissioner I have done a lot of copy and paste of what he did: if you want to create a group you have to be true and consistent, he was”.
Gattuso’s balance sheet at the helm of Italy since he took over from Luciano Spalletti speaks of five wins and one defeat, but for the current coach the attitude counts above all: “The boys have given everything, I have seen positive mentality and a great sense of belonging”. Now the gaze is turned to the playoff semifinal on March 26 against Northern Ireland, an already decisive step toward the World Cup for which Gattuso urges caution: “Modern soccer says easy matches no longer exist. The lesson of 2021 is still alive, we must not be overwhelmed by the unexpected: we must remain lucid for ninety minutes”.
Gattuso’s fixation remains a return to the World Cup, but to get there, according to him, one must not turn it into an obsession. “I have to live by the day, aware that lucidity comes from daily choices. From now until March I will closely follow all the summonables, between stadiums and constant interviews. I hear from the players often, not just the veterans. I like to chat with them”. The doors of the national team remain open to those who show sacrifice and availability, values that Gattuso considers fundamental to building a true group. “And then there’s the enthusiasm of the public, which has returned to follow Italy with important numbers: for me, this is an encouraging sign” he said.
On the front related to convocable players, Gattuso acknowledges that there are few Italians in Serie A, but he sees quality and dedication in those who wear the Azzurri jersey. “I have appreciated the sacrifices of the boys, I am convinced that the spirit shown so far is the basis for facing the decisive months that await the national team”.
The technical commissioner, therefore, tries to look ahead with energy: “When I no longer have this kind of adrenaline, then I will look back. Now, however, there’s a goal that is worth everything: to take Italy back to the World Cup. We want to get there with hard work, balance and a team ready to represent the country with pride”.
