Gattuso: ‘Italy will get nowhere with quality alone, were masters of grit’

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)

Gennaro Gattuso warns Italy ‘will get nowhere with quality alone,’ so they must rediscover the fighting spirit that they were ‘masters’ at over the years.

The coach could not have asked for a better result on his debut, sweeping Estonia aside 5-0 in Bergamo.

However, it took until the 58^th minute to break the deadlock with Moise Kean, followed by a Mateo Retegui brace, Giacomo Raspadori and Alessandro Bastoni goals.

“I was afraid going into the break at 0-0, the team would be tense after the restart, but instead they kept the same attitude. The lads did really well.”

Gattuso brings very different approach to Italy

It was a radical shift from the Luciano Spalletti era, embracing a 4-2-3-1 formation with Kean, Retegui, Mattia Zaccagni and Matteo Politano starting together.

“We knew that we had to take some risks, leaving one-on-one situations on the counter-attack, as we had so many forwards on the field,” Gattuso told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was important to work the ball down the flanks, attack their channels, and we were unlucky not to score earlier. I congratulate the lads, because for three days we’ve had an incredible atmosphere in training.

“As I always said, this team has quality, but you get nowhere with quality alone. This team has to do everything vehemently, attack the ball, press hard, show hunger, and I think we saw all of that today.”

It was the first time that Kean and Retegui had started together in the Italy jersey.

“You can do this sometimes, not in other situations, but we evaluated it and decided to take the risk. The team did well with the full-backs pushing forward and combining with the forwards. It’s natural that when the level of the opposition goes up, we must also be more careful and concentrated.”

Gattuso had said he would not have time to get emotional on his Italy debut as coach, but his singing of the national anthem showed the same old passion from winning the 2006 World Cup as a player.

“I did get emotional at the anthem. I decided to leave the players alone during the warm-up and leave the pitch, because I’ve talked to them so much over the last few days, I was getting on their nerves.

“There is a lot of pressure, I feel it, that is normal, but I’m trying to experience it in a positive way. I’m fortunate that from the first day me and my team arrived, the atmosphere has been wonderful.”

Gattuso was asked when he goes to sleep tonight, what is the image that will go through his mind?

“The embrace with my assistants, as we’ve been together a lifetime now. We had a few struggles, but it’s sporting suffering, not real suffering. We had a few slaps over the years, we celebrated too, so the hug with Gigi Buffon and Leo Bonucci were special too.”

In the press conference, the coach also had a special dedication for his family in the stands.

“I could hear the voice of my mother from the balcony when I was playing in the street. I also dedicate this to my wife, because she’s been putting up with me since 1997, that’s 28 years together. I know what I’ve put her through all these years, so the dedication is for her and our children. They make me truly happy.”

Bastoni and Raspadori said in their post-match interviews that Gattuso had given them both metaphorical and literal slaps during training.

“I want to clarify I did not slap anyone,” laughed Gattuso.

“I just want a team that works hard, because quality isn’t enough, we’ve got to have that extra push, extra run, extra word to your teammates. We must be able to suffer to bring a result home. Italy were masters at this and we’ve got to rediscover that spirit.”

Italy are still playing catch-up with group leaders Norway, who have a 100 per cent primato of 12 points after four games played.

Their next opponents Israel also consolidated second place with this evening’s 4-0 win away to Moldova.

They will go head-to-head on neutral turf in Debrecen, Hungary, on Monday night.

Playing against Israel is at the very least awkward at this moment, especially after calls for them to be suspended by UEFA and FIFA over the Gaza situation.

“I am a man of peace and it’s awful to see civilians and children go through this,” replied Gattuso.

“We are just unlucky to have Israel in our group, there’s not a lot we can do about it. What we’re seeing is painful, that’s all I can say.”