Florence, Oct. 7 (LaPresse) – “On Tuesday we go to Udine” to play against Israel, “and there will be very few people there, and I understand the concern. We have to play the match. It’s painful to see what’s happening” in Gaza, “it breaks the heart, and we can’t say it will be a calm environment with 10,000 people protesting outside the stadium.”
So said national team coach Gennaro Gattuso at the federal technical center in Coverciano, where the Azzurri are preparing for their World Cup qualifying matches against Estonia and Israel.
“We need to focus on our job. The message is to work with great concentration and not get caught up in everything coming from outside, where the atmosphere is anything but calm. Then we’ll see if we have to play the playoffs. For now, we focus on the match with Estonia — it’s going to be a battle,” added the coach.
“The choices were made because we’ll play one way in the first match and differently in the second. It’s unfortunate about the injured players, but those who are here will help us out. I have to say I found the players in much better shape now than a month ago. We’re very happy.
Right now, I have to set my ego aside and put the boys in the best possible conditions. We’ll choose the best system to place the players in the right roles,” Gattuso concluded.
Football, Gattuso: “We have to play against Israel, but it won’t be a calm atmosphere”
