Giacomo Raspadori confirms Gennaro Gattuso’s ‘slaps’ weren’t simply metaphorical, however literal, to shake Italy out of their rut. ‘I obtained one on the again of the neck.’
The brand new Atletico Madrid ahead got here off the bench and instantly contributed an help adopted by a aim 90 seconds later.
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It was a vital cameo in , with targets scored by Moise Kean, Mateo Retegui (twice), Raspadori and Alessandro Bastoni.
Raspadori not kidding about Gattuso hands-on encouragement
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Coach Gennaro Gattuso of Italy gesture in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Photos)
This couldn’t have been a greater debut for Gattuso, who to wake them up. Did he imply that metaphorically?
“No, he gave us real slaps, I obtained one on the again of the neck,”
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“Over today, he has given us quite a lot of dedication and grit, as a result of we’re gifted gamers, we’ve simply obtained to get all of it on the market on the pitch and show it. I believe we had a concrete recreation from begin to end right now, as 5 targets will not be simple to attain towards a group like this.
“We’ve obtained to consider that we’re heading in the right direction to go ahead.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Giacomo Raspadori of Italy celebrates with teammates after scoring his group’s third aim in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Photos)
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Gattuso was employed exactly as a result of he was a part of the 2006 World Cup successful squad, and was a participant who targeted extra on angle and coronary heart than high quality in his day.
“I used to be lucky to look at him play, so I recognise all of it in the way in which he strikes in coaching now, the way in which he talks to us each as a gaggle and one-on-one. He exhibits how necessary the Azzurri jersey is and what we signify.
“We did nicely to embrace that shortly and put together in one of the best ways, now we’ve obtained to maintain it going.”
BERGAMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: (EDITORS NOTE: On this picture taken from a distant digital camera from behind the aim) Moise Kean of Italy scores his group’s a primary aim in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Estonia at Stadio di Bergamo on September 05, 2025 in Bergamo, Italy. (Picture by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Photos)
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Italy additionally began a brand new 4-2-3-1 formation utilizing a number of attacking gamers concurrently, with Raspadori approaching to interchange Mattia Zaccagni.
“We all know that we have to rating extra targets, so we’ve obtained to attempt to power it. Estonia proved how troublesome they had been to interrupt down, and till we obtained that first aim, it was actually powerful.”
Raspadori left Napoli and Serie A this summer time for a brand new journey with Atletico Madrid, so how is it being again on Italian soil?
“It’s actually a implausible expertise in each method, each for sporting and private development. I’m very blissful to have made this alternative, however proper now I’m 100 per cent targeted on the Nazionale.”