A day of new faces at Coverciano. Called up for the first time to the senior national team, Caleb Okoli and Marco Brescianini were the protagonists of the usual press conference during the second day of training camp in view of the Nations League matches against France and Israel.
Marco Brescianini, the full Q&A
Did you expect to find Okoli in the national team? What are your useful characteristics to earn the call-up?
“I was very happy with the call-up, I didn’t expect to find him here after a few months. It’s a great honor for me. I think the coach evaluated my running, my versatility and my seriousness. I think I can play as a mezz’ala or in another role in midfield.”
At 24, do you consider yourself young?
“I’ve made a fairly gradual climb. On the one hand, this has helped me, but on the other hand, in terms of experience on big stages, I’m missing something. However, I think this call came at the right time.”
How was the move to Frosinone fundamental? What was the CT’s approach with you?
“The climb was very important, as was the adventure in Serie A with Frosinone. Mister Di Francesco, his staff and the sporting director Angelozzi played a fundamental role in my growth, there was an excellent group there. We know how it ended, but that was a springboard for growth. Spalletti had already come to Frosinone last year, he had come to see 1-2 training sessions, but on those occasions there was only a greeting”.
How much did Gattuso count in your growth?
“He was also fundamental, he was the first coach to believe in me and to make me understand what it meant to approach the world of the big boys. I had him in the Primavera at Milan, then he went to the first team and brought 2-3 boys including me to train with the first team. That experience was very useful to me”.
What feelings are you experiencing these days?
“For me it’s a dream come true, maybe I still don’t realize it today and the feelings were immediately positive. After the speech of the coach and Buffon I immediately saw the team eager not to repeat the mistakes made. Now it’s up to us to honor this shirt, we’ll give it our all”.
You were promoted by Frosinone, even though Frosinone was relegated. What is the lesson of this experience?
“Frosinone’s mentality has always been to launch young players, to help them grow and improve. It’s also thanks to an environment that doesn’t put too much pressure and leaves room for young players to express themselves. Everything is done under the supervision of people who do their job very well. The rebirth of Italian football can start from clubs like this.”
Is this national team having to start again more of a stimulus or a pressure for you?
“A stimulus. Since it’s our first experience, both Caleb and I want to show what we’re made of. We know we have pressure from all over the country, but we’ll try to do something more than what we’ve done so far because it’s clear to everyone that it wasn’t enough. We have to show our qualities and unite as a team. In the national team, each of us has to do something more because there’s no time.”
You indicated Milinkovic-Savic as your role model, how close do you feel to him?
“I don’t feel so close to him yet, I have to prove it, I have indicated his name as a prototype and model. My personal goal is to improve every day and then in the future I want to be Brescianini, not be compared to other players. I focus on myself to enhance my qualities”.
You are fans of Cremonini and Vasco Rossi. Is this call-up more ‘A better day’ or ‘Like in fairy tales’?
“Like in fairy tales…”
What does it take to stand out in this football?
“First of all, a player must also be an athlete, we have seen the number of games that are played and the speed at which they play. You need strength, speed, athleticism and all this without forgetting the technique and the head that play a fundamental role. You have to be balanced with emotions, with the opinions of external people. Since football is so fast, you also have to think first, see the play first. The player must be evaluated from all these aspects”.
What emotions do you feel when you think about having to challenge France? What is your best role?
“My perfect role is right midfield, even though last year I played in all the midfield positions. If needed, I will play any role. Thinking about France, we will have to pay a lot of attention to their offensive department, it is their strength. And then we will have to pay attention to their physicality, we will use these days to adopt strategies to win this match”.
What do you expect from Atalanta?
With Caleb last year we were talking about his past at Atalanta, I think especially this summer he has taken many Italian players and this is an honor for me, now I have to think about the national team but then I also want to repay this trust. We have all seen what reality it has become in recent years”.
TMW – Can you tell us about your summer?
“My summer was a bit more eventful than Okoli’s, but it’s the choice I wanted. I’m very happy with this choice. Now, however, I’m very focused on the national team, I’m focused on these two games.”
Caleb Okoli, the full Q&A
Premier League debut and first call-up, how are you experiencing these days?
“They were huge emotions, the debut was very important for me. A few days before I found out about the call-up to the national team and I’m very happy about this”.
What can this experience at Leicester give you?
“I am convinced that this adventure will give me a lot of experience in Europe and internationally. I find myself playing in the Premier League and I am happy. I am ready to bring this experience here too, together with my teammates”.
Are you sorry you didn’t receive calls from Italian clubs?
“I actually received a few calls, but I dreamed of playing in the Premier League. I wanted to go there and when this opportunity arose I jumped at it, I think it can pay off big.”
How much did the adventure at Frosinone help you?
“Mister Di Francesco helped me grow, it was an important year for me. Spalletti came to see our training and focused a lot on professionalism, from that day I always thought about his words and now I’m happy that maybe from that day he saw something more”
Why do so many kids get lost between the Under and First Teams?
“I don’t really agree, in the Under 21s I had teammates like Fagioli, Ricci, Udogie and Bellanova: they were my teammates and now they are here with me. They are doing great things in the top leagues. We are going in the right direction, more and more young Italian footballers are emerging. Of course, abroad we see 17-18 year old players playing every day, but we are also going in the right direction”.
What feelings are you experiencing these days?
“Buffon gave a very emotional speech, it struck me straight away. I immediately understood his role in this national team and I am convinced that from now on we will be able to make everyone change their minds about Italy. He said that whatever we do to represent this country should be felt important and I am very convinced that we will be able to do that”.
What struck you most about the Premier League? What did you and Brescianini say after the call-ups?
“The first thing that struck me was the great intensity, the phases of the game all combined at very high levels. Brescianini for me has always been a great footballer, I always believed in his call to the national team and I also hoped a lot in his call-up. Now here we are together…”
Is this national team having to start again more of a stimulus or a pressure for you?
“For me it’s more of a stimulus. As Spalletti and Buffon said, what we have to put on the pitch right away is our personality, we have to believe in it right away and bring personality which is the most important thing.”
What does it take to stand out in this football?
“You have to know how to read the game, have physicality, speed and technique. The mental aspect is very important to develop, players are becoming faster and more technical, the mental aspect needs to be trained more and more”.
How do you feel about the three-man defense? Are you more outside in the three or central? How does it feel to you thinking about the fact that on Friday you will play in Paris against France?
“I feel comfortable in any position in the three-man defence. Last year I played many games on the left, but also in the centre and on the right. I feel comfortable in any position in defence. Thinking about the match against France, I see a high-intensity game with great emotions: if we are compact and united, I’m sure we can achieve great things.”
What did Atalanta represent for you?
“It was a very important company, I’m very happy with the path I took with them. They were a great family, I arrived when I was 14 and they gave me so much. I’m happy with the goals I’ve achieved and it will always be part of me, I always told Marco that it would be a great choice for him. I’m convinced that he will be happy and will do great things”.
TMW – Can you tell us about your summer with the move to Leicester?
“It was an important summer for me, I had the opportunity to go and play in the Premier League. I’m very happy with my choice and after this break with the national team I can’t wait to consolidate myself in the Premier League. But now my head is 100% here, the next objective is the match against France”.
The training
Moise Kean did differentiated work due to fatigue, while all the others trained regularly under Spalletti’s orders. The coach for the Paris match has clear ideas on the formation: 3-5-2 with Retegui at the center of the attack. Riccardo Calafiori will lead the defense, Fagioli-Ricci will be the play-off in the control room.