Manuel Locatelli has opened up about the advice Gennaro Gattuso imparted during Italy’s 2-0 triumph against Northern Ireland, articulating a deep sense of ‘responsibility towards all the children’ who passionately support the Azzurri.
The Italian national team edged closer to securing a spot in the 2026 World Cup by winning their semi-final fixture in Bergamo, thanks to crucial goals from Sandro Tonali and Moise Kean.
Their journey continues with an away final scheduled for Tuesday, March 31. The opposition remains unknown, as Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina proceeded into extra time following their 1-1 draw.
Locatelli Embraces Italy’s Responsibility
“We haven’t yet shed any weight off our shoulders, because we still have a play-off final to contend with,” Locatelli stated in an interview. “We haven’t achieved anything definitively. The start was somewhat tense, but the second half saw a significant improvement. Now, we must deliver another exceptional performance in the final.”
The identity of their final opponent is still pending, as Wales and Bosnia and Herzegovina were locked in extra time after their semi-final ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
Gattuso reportedly highlighted that Locatelli was positioned too deep in the first half, pressing close to the defensive line.
“I had a feeling on the pitch that I could offer more assistance to the team from that position, but the coach instructed me to adopt a more advanced role, which led to a better showing in the second half,” the Juventus midfielder explained.
Despite being considered favorites for the match, Locatelli revealed Gattuso’s powerful message to the squad during the half-time break.
“The coach’s words were: ‘You didn’t imagine this would be easy, did you?’ We must consistently maintain this sense of unity and resilience, because ultimately, hard work pays off.”
“We anticipated a tough encounter; we are a formidable team, and Gattuso serves as our guiding leader. Our bond is truly strong, forged partly through the challenges we’ve faced in recent years.”
“Now, there are no excuses; we must deliver a superb performance in the final. It demands character, players who want the ball, and who can offer positive encouragement to their teammates. We demonstrated patience to break down their defense, and we succeeded in the end. We also extend our gratitude to the fans for their patience today.”
Having missed out on the last two World Cup tournaments following play-off defeats in 2018 and 2022, an entire generation of Italian football fans has yet to witness the Azzurri compete on football’s grandest stage.
“We are acutely aware of our responsibility to all the young supporters and the entire Italian footballing community. Our motivation is certainly not lacking,” Locatelli affirmed in closing.
