Everything Gattuso said in Italy press conference ahead of Estonia and Israel

Here is everything Gennaro Gattuso said in his press conference, as Italy make changes to the squad and prepare for the World Cup qualifiers with Estonia and Israel .

The Azzurri will be in action in Tallin on Saturday evening, then host Israel at the Stadio Friuli in Udine on Tuesday night.

There have been some changes forced already for the coach, as Matteo Politano of Napoli and Mattia Zaccagni at Lazio pulled out due to injury.

He called in wing-back Leonardo Spinazzola and centre-forward Roberto Piccoli, who have very different characteristics to the players they replaced.

“It’s disappointing to lose these players, but we brought in others who can give us a hand. The choices were made based on two games that we will face in different ways,” said Gattuso in his press conference.

“We travel around and get the Federation to spend money on having scouts at many games, so it is important to reward what we see in those situations. I am sorry if some were left at home, but my evaluations are based on what we see. Then I take responsibility for those decisions.”

Considering Spinazzola’s versatility, where will the Napoli man play for Gattuso’s Italy?

“He has his role, then naturally he can also push a bit further up, because he has pace and quality. He has been unlucky, lacking consistency, but is now finding that again.

“I have to thank Spinazzola, because I called him after the Politano injury and he was immediately available. It’s not easy to be like that at age 32, I too have been through that phase as a player. He came with eagerness and passion, so I appreciated that a great deal.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy . (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

There were also reports today that Italy were scouting Atalanta’s 17-year-old Honest Ahanor and Club Brugge striker Nicolò Tresoldi , who were both born in the Peninsula.

“They both have the possibility of wearing the Azzurri jersey, we are talking with the President and Gigi Buffon, we’ve been talking to them for a while. We’re working on it, and we’ll see if something can be done.”

Despite the missing stars, Liverpool wide man Federico Chiesa has still not been called up, even after breaking back into the Reds side.

“The Chiesa issue is very simple. I talk to my players a lot, and I want to make that clear, a lot. I speak every week with Fede and he knows what I think of him, but I also have to respect what the player tells me.

“He does not feel at 100 per cent and wants to be at 100 per cent, that is the truth. There is no controversy, no secret.”

ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: The Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso attends the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy . (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

Some coaches who take on international roles reveal they are frustrated by the lack of daily work on the training ground, so how has Gattuso adapted to this position?

“There is a lot of pressure, I like to travel around and I am certainly not bored. I thought that I might miss the training ground more, but instead this is really hard work. There is so much responsibility and I am really enjoying that. I hope to always have this enthusiasm.”

Italy won their first two games under Gattuso, but in very different circumstances, as the 5-0 victory over Estonia was followed by a chaotic 5-4 win with Israel .

“There are many things we need to fix. It’s not just about the defence, but about being able to sniff out danger in all areas of the pitch.

“At the same time, there are also many positives. We were the ones who allowed Israel back into the game and we were very lucky to take the result home. We’ve got to improve our attitude, it’s not about the tactical system.”

With that in mind, should the Azzurri return to a three-man defence or keep going with four at the back?

“A coach must be able to do it all, I have to set my ego aside and do what is best for the team. I don’t really like a three-man defence much, but that doesn’t matter, I will always choose the best system for these players.

“The situation has improved a lot from last month, as the players have more minutes in their legs.”

BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Gennaro Gattuso, Head Coach of Italy during the National anthems prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy . (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images)

Italian defending used to be the biggest strength, but it seems to be a lost art.

“In recent years, most defences have worked on reference points rather than sectors, so it’s a different type of training and you need to work on it.

“We must try to find a middle ground, this is modern football. Playing this way, man-marking is more difficult.”

Giacomo Raspadori is another alternative for the left flank now that he has been playing in that position for Atletico Madrid.

“I put him there against Estonia in Bergamo, so yes, it can be a solution.”

Nicolò Cambiaghi of Lazio and Fiorentina midfielder Hans Nicolussi Caviglia were among the new faces in Gattuso’s Italy squad.

“Cambiaghi has similarities with Politano. He was unlucky last season and tore his anterior cruciate ligament, but he does well both attacking and defending.

“Nicolussi can be a deep-lying playmaker if he wants, as he brings balance and quality, so has the right characteristics for the role.”

Italy team manager Gigi Buffon confessed this week that the bad start in Norway means they are almost certain to be heading for the play-offs to reach the 2026 World Cup, so what message is Gattuso sending?

“There’s no message, we just have to do our jobs. We’ve got to work with concentration and not get swept up in all that comes from outside. It’s not the best atmosphere where we are, but we have to focus on getting our results and being ready.

“There might be more changes in future, I don’t know, but first up we need to battle against Estonia .”

ROME, ITALY – JUNE 19: Gianluigi Buffon, Italy new head coach Gennaro Gattuso and FIGC president Gabriele Gravina pose during the press conference at Hotel Parco dei Principi on June 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy . (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

The atmosphere is also tense because of the upcoming match against Israel in Udine, where there are expected to be more people outside the stadium protesting than inside to watch the game.

Attempts to get UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel over the situation in Gaza have failed, along with calls to boycott the fixture.

“Yes, that is what I was referring to, it’s a fact that we cannot deny. We’re going to Udine and there will be very few people in the stands. I understand that, I understand the worry,” continued Gattuso.

“We also know that we have to play, otherwise we’ll be given an automatic 3-0 defeat. It pains the heart to see what is happening, we know full well there will be 10,000 people outside the stadium and 6,000 inside. We would’ve preferred a different atmosphere, obviously.”

Fiorentina striker Moise Kean has been suffering from the same poor form as his club side, scoring one goal with two assists in seven appearances this season.

“Kean scored double figures last season. I told him that in this moment, he needs to give something more, because he is an important player. He mustn’t seek alibis, but instead be ready and a reference point for his teammates.”

Gattuso was asked about the possibility of using two centre-forwards together from the start, but drew a firm line under the idea.

“It would be madness to fiddle with something that worked well, but we’ll see what we get from the training sessions, seeing as today is the first.”

First Italy training under Gennaro Gattuso on September 1, 2025.

Samuele Ricci moved to Milan this summer and was hoping to make more of an impact, but the arrival of Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot has seen him pushed to the bench.

“It’s disappointing, but not all is lost. Getting minutes in his legs is important, he’s just got a legend like Modric in front of him, but just training alongside someone of that stature can help improve a player. I hope he can soon find his space.”

If Italy are battling to get to the 2026 World Cup, then one of Gattuso’s former teammates is already booking his hotel, as Fabio Cannavaro took over the Uzbekistan job this week with qualification guaranteed.

“I called him and said he’s a lucky b****r! There are no easy games, we’ve got to prepare well. We are on Estonia’s turf, it will be a very different game to the one in Bergamo, so we must respect our opponents. We’ve got it all to lose.”

Gattuso was asked about the decision to play the first ever Serie A match abroad, as Milan will face Como in Perth, Australia in February 2026.

“This is modern football. There is big money involved and the clubs quite rightly have to take that into consideration. I don’t see it as a negative thing, it’s positive for our football.”