Gravina: ‘Italian football is in evolution’ and Azzurri deserved more

FIGC President Gabriele Gravina insists he has seen ‘evolution in Italian football, but we need to believe more in our talents’ and trust in a Nations League fightback against Germany.

The Federation chief visited the site of a new coaching centre that will be built in the Piedmont region and was inevitably asked about last night’s 2-1 Nations League quarter-final defeat at San Siro.

“There is some disappointment over the result, it’s a pity that we were penalised by two naïve errors, but there is also satisfaction for the hunger and determination that our lads showed. They deserved more,” Gravina told reporters.

The second leg will be played at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Sunday and the Azzurri have a mountain to climb in order to qualify for the Final Four.

“There is always a possibility, and we must believe. We’ll see what kind of reaction we get from the players on Sunday.”

Gravina sees glass half full at club level

With regards to the state of Italian football at club level, Inter are into the Coppa Campioni quarter-finals, while Lazio have made it to the final eight of the Europa League and Fiorentina progress in the Conference League.

“I am above all sad for Bologna, because with another two or three weeks, they could’ve sent a strong message to European football. I am particularly optimistic and it would be a shame if we were unable to confirm our five spots in the Coppa Campioni,” added Gravina.

Italy are currently third in the UEFA rankings behind England and Spain, so as things stand would be back to only four places in Europe’s premier competition.

“We were second and are now third, so we’re fighting it out on level terms. There is an evolution in Italian football, but what we are lacking is a cultural approach. We need to believe more in our talents, offering them the opportunity to get more playing time.”