Gennaro Gattuso has actually done the job as Italian national team coach. Right up until that Sunday at San Siro in November and the 1-4 loss against (the former) football mosquito Norway. A direct World Cup ticket was lost anyway after the 3-0 loss to Norway this summer on Pioli’s watch, but Italy will not be outplayed in the second half by Norvegia. Since then, the mood in the corridors of football in Italy has been excessively tense.
Last Sunday, a grinning Ståle Solbakken came up to a humming Gennaro Gattuso and apologized. Not for having played the football giant on their own turf, but for a somewhat enthusiastic celebration on Norway’s bench after 28 years of World Cup drought. “Completely understandable”, was the answer from the Italian national team coach. He knew this was the least he would be annoyed about in the coming weeks. A few days later, there were again questions about the player who did not play against Norway.
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Up until March and playoff matches for a World Cup ticket, Gattuso must gather the best players. With Federico Chiesa, the winger who stands with 2 goals in 8 Premier League this season, not in the squad, comes critical questions from the Italian press. Gattuso is now mighty tired of this.
“You know it well. You know Chiesa’s problem well. You always ask me the same thing. I take him out every time and talk to him. The problem does not lie with Gattuso or the staff. He has a problem. Not us,” Gattuso said without going into detail to Sky Sports Italia.
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Chiesa has played 51 caps for the Italian national team, the last time he was part of the national team squad was in June 2024.
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However, we guess it will not be the last time Gattuso is asked about Chiesa. Italy knows they once again risk a championship without participation.
