Manuel Locatelli shared insights into Gennaro Gattuso’s comments during Italy’s 2-0 victory against Northern Ireland, emphasizing his sense of responsibility towards the young supporters of the Azzurri.
The Italian national team advanced closer to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup by securing a semi-final win in Bergamo, with goals scored by Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Italy must still compete in an away final on Tuesday, March 31st, though their opponent remains undecided as Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina entered extra time after their 1-1 draw.
Locatelli’s Sense of Italian Duty
“We haven’t yet shed the burden, as a play-off final still awaits us,” Locatelli stated in an interview with RAI Sport.
“Nothing has been achieved so far. The match began somewhat tensely, but our performance significantly improved in the second half. Now, we must deliver another strong performance in the final.”
The identity of their final opponent is still unknown, as the semi-final between Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded in a 1-1 draw, leading to extra time.
Gattuso observed that Locatelli played too deep during the first half, positioning himself too close to the defensive line.
“On the field, I felt I could assist the team more effectively from that position, but the coach instructed me to adopt a more forward role, which led to a better second-half display,” the Juventus midfielder explained.
Despite Italy being the favorites, Locatelli shared Gattuso’s half-time message to the squad.
“The coach’s words were: ‘You didn’t expect this to be easy, did you?’ We need to maintain our unity and resilience consistently, as hard work ultimately yields rewards.”
“We anticipated a tough match. We are a strong team, and Gattuso serves as our leader. Our unity is genuine, partly forged through the challenges we’ve faced in recent years.”
“From this point, there are no excuses; we must perform exceptionally in the final. We require character, players who actively seek the ball, and who offer positive encouragement to their teammates. We demonstrated the patience needed to dismantle their defense and succeeded in the end. We also appreciate the fans’ patience today.”
Italy’s absence from the previous two World Cup tournaments, due to play-off losses in 2018 and 2022, means that whole generations have not witnessed the Azzurri compete on football’s grandest stage.
“We are fully aware of our responsibility to the younger generation and the entire Italian football community. Motivation is certainly not an issue for us,” Locatelli concluded.