A new start, a sense of belonging, clear ideas and the idea of ‘us before I’. These are the key takeaways from Gennaro Ivan Gattuso’s press conference today at the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome. The 23rd National Team Head Coach will have the job of taking the National Team to the World Cup. His first game with the team will be in Bergamo against Estonia before heading to Debrecen to take to Israel. There will be another two games against the same opponents in October, before the final games in November against Moldova and Norway.

GATTUSO: “It’s a dream come true and I hope to perform this role to the best of my abilities. The job is not easy, but there’s nothing easy in life. We know that there’s a lot to do, but we’re also aware that we’re capable of doing something great. There’s not much to say, we need to work, speak to the players and transmit the positive things into their minds. I’ve heard for years that we don’t have talent in Italy, but I think the players are very talented: we need to create the right conditions so that they can show this. The goal is to take us to the World Cup, this is fundamental for our football and country. We have the assets and qualities to do this”.

THE TEAM Answering questions from journalists in the room, the new Head Coach added: "The Team needs enthusiasm and desire to be together in difficult moments, to be united. Whoever comes to Coverciano must do so with enthusiasm to create a family feel: the formations, technique and tactics are important, but the priority is to get back to having a strong group and that mentality that has set us apart for years. When I got the call, I didn't waste a second, also because I'm convinced that we have a strong team: here, there are no individuals, but a team. Not featuring in two World Cup's was difficult for everyone, because the National Team shirt has an important weight and it's not easy to manage the pressure. The word, fear, cannot exist here, we will not go anywhere if we are scared. My job will change, the daily tasks will be different compared to that of a club, but football is my life: when I wake up, I can't wait to talk football. In this initial period, I will touch base with colleagues in the Serie A and other leagues where our players play: the objective is to go and talk to the players, watch matches, taking trains and planes to look for the best profiles". 

MEETING AND DIALOGUE Gattuso spoke about the important job off of the pitch: "We have to be ready to react, reacting will get out of this situation. With the players, we will try to create a family, always saying things in person, even when it comes to the things we might not like to hear. We need to be together on the pitch, in the difficult moments, the feeling of being alone is the worst, when you don't hear the voice of your teammate, the match becomes difficult and 90 minutes become endless. We have to change this aspect here and help ourselves. I've only thought about the things needing to be done and the responsibilities, but hearing my parents be so excited was special. The phone call with Lippi? I hope to do what he did: not in lifting a cup, but recreating a solid chemistry in the locker room, getting the sense of belonging back, seeing the players come to Coverciano with a smile. It will be important to enter into the minds of the players, speaking and meeting with them: every one of them is different and we must meet their demands by listening to them. At the moment, in the Serie A 40% of teams play with a three in defence and the rest play with four, but it's not a question of formations, we need to put the players in the right place and, in terms of qualification, fixing the goal difference. We need to score and have a team that likes to play in the opposition's half, creating the conditions to create and cause problems for the opposition. The formations don't matter too much right now: the most important thing will be how we are on the pitch and in the training sessions. I want players who play at full speed without holding back".  

GRAVINA AND THE PRANDELLI PROJECT The arrival of Gattuso coincides with a wider change to the project in the Youth Sector and world of the Azzurri: Leonardo Bonucci will join the staff of the First Team. Cesare Prandelli will be the head of a new initiative, working with Gianluca Zambrotta and Simone Perrotta to develop the Youth Teams, Youth and Schooling Sector and Technical Sector: "The idea is to develop the qualities off our players in the best way possible. The "Prandelli Project" will run alongside that of the Head Coach. We chose Gattuso because he has the qualities, determination, but above all, the desire to do something great for the team and country. The team needs him and he responded without any hesitation to the call, with the same enthusiasm as when he was a player. It's not just down to his availability and enthusiasm, there's lots of other factors. He's got a great spirit of sacrifice, professionalism, preparation and something extraordinary which struck me from the first moment that we met: he wanted to put the idea of team before individuality forward, sending clear messages. He told me straight away that nobody wins on their own, and the idea is to have a determined, cohesive, courageous and convinced team: we win together and we will go to the World Cup together. This is the best message: the task assigned with Rino is to make people understand that the National Team must take a step forward, trying to sustain this project for the good of the team and our sport, for the good of football. The choice was made for the man, capable of motivating in the best way possible, but also for the Coach, because we are convinced of the qualities he has as a Coach. I must thank Buffon, who played a key part, his role was decisive". 

BUFFON Buffon also added: “I've shared lots of experiences with Rino as a player, but I also had the chance to play against his teams: I've always found it difficult to play against his sides, because there were clear ideas, reasoning and a precise idea, when you're on the pitch you see that right away. Obviously, he has a decisive trait, which is his generous, fighting and determined spirit, and no one will ever take this away from him. He's been coaching for 12 years, he had experiences in Europe, feeling the desire to improve and evolve himself. It was a choice agreed with the President: there aren't many coaches who are much better or worse at this level, but coaches who are more suitable and functional given the moments that the team are experiencing. At this historic time, Rino was the right choice to become the Head Coach".