The national team’s meeting continues in Coverciano, awaiting the matches against Belgium and France. This week the future of Italy will be decidedwho only need one point to secure arithmetic qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals. In the meantime, however, the protagonists of the press conference were Pietro Comuzzo And Nicolò Savonawho crossed the gate of the Federal Technical Center for the first time. Here are the full statements from the two Fiorentina and Juventus players:
Savona’s full statements: “What advice did Chiellini give me? He is a person who gave me a lot of advice. The biggest one is to always maintain the same humility and work hard to achieve the set objectives. From a technical point of view, that of improving training after training and working hard.”
When did you think you could reach this level?
“You notice it by being close to champions of this caliber. For my part, when I started my training camp with Juventus. Reaching this goal is a dream come true, you train with strong players.”
You are from Aosta Valley. Have you ever thought about being a skier?
“I have a house on the ski slopes, as a child I took part in several competitions. Then when I was ten I had to choose between football and skiing and I chose football, also because I didn’t particularly like skiing. I competed in slalom”.
You can play both wide and central. Do you feel like you can also be useful as an arm in arm?
“Playing different roles nowadays is very important. My characteristics are pushing and defending, but last year I mainly played as a defensive third. I can cover both roles and I think this is something to my advantage” .
What goal do you have with the club?
“Our goal as a team is to reach the top of the table and we work towards this. But now we are here for a week and we work for the national team.”
What’s the best advice your coach gave you?
“Motta talks a lot to us guys, to the whole team. He’s certainly focusing on the attitude of each individual guy, the coach likes to see us happy in training and we’re trying to bring a calm environment to the locker room. He’s giving me a lot of space and I’ll try to repay him in the best possible way.”
What is the risk to avoid from now on?
“The difficult must come, I know that I must maintain the same humility. Dedication and perseverance are the qualities with which I have reached this point and I will never have to lose them. I will try to remain as I am”.
How many messages did you receive after the call? Do you want to thank someone? Will you give someone your debut shirt?
“Many messages, the call-up is something more unique than rare. Many coaches have helped me get this far, there are 5-6 of them… Several people have written to me about the first shirt with the national team, but I will keep it “.
What are your emotions when crossing this gate? What did Spalletti tell you?
“For me it’s the first time here, there’s a good group and it’s a great feeling. Spalletti welcomed me really well and I thanked him.”
Who would you like to challenge? Which game would you like to play?
“I don’t know, I say Italy-France at San Siro but just being here is a very strong emotion. Challenging Doku of Belgium would be a good test…”.
Comuzzo’s full statements: “When a child starts playing football and sees the national team on TV that’s the dream, to be with them. Walking through these doors is the biggest dream I could achieve. I didn’t celebrate, I didn’t do anything special. I spoke with my family, we are very reserved and celebrate with each other.”
Yesterday you were compared to Pietro Vierchowod. Do you feel like that type of defender? Or are you more of a Calafiori defender who wants to participate in the maneuver?
“I feel more comfortable in marking, in duels, that’s what excites me the most. I don’t want to limit myself, however, I want to become concrete and improve from a technical point of view and in the construction phase. I want to learn from players like Bastoni and Calafiori: I want to become a complete defender, trying to limit my biggest weaknesses.”
When did you think you could reach this level?
“When I made my debut with the big boys in Serie A. Since January of this year I have remained in the first team and I understood that I could stay there. For what I have achieved now, a thought goes to my mother, if I do it it is above all for her.”
Yesterday Spalletti spoke about your ability to concentrate
“It’s certainly a quality of mine, the way I was brought up is something I focus on a lot. When you go on the pitch it’s your head that makes the difference, even more so for a defender.”
What connection do you have with the national team and with the anthem? You said it’s the most beautiful in the world
“For me, Mameli’s anthem is the most beautiful in the world, it makes you understand the importance and beauty of this country. Singing it on the pitch is the most beautiful thing I could imagine. Is your idol Chiellini? Yes, the I experienced the 2021 European Championship in a beautiful way. Seeing Chiellini play those matches and seeing him lift the trophy was an immense joy.”
What goal do you have with the club?
“As a team we try to work every day to improve. We are up there and we want to stay there: now I’m not thinking about Fiorentina though, I’m thinking about these days with the national team.”
What is the best piece of advice from the coach?
“Palladino gives me advice on the pitch and on how to improve. The beautiful thing about the Fiorentina group is precisely the group, if we are there it is because we are deserving it and we are fighting as much as possible to stay up there.”
What is the risk to avoid from now on?
“They say that getting to the top is the easiest thing, the difficult thing is to stay. My dad always tells me to build solid foundations to stay at the top and I believe I have done it. Then anything can happen, but I will work to try to stay high.”
How many messages did you receive after the call? Do you want to thank someone? Who will you give the debut shirt to?
“Many messages arrived, perhaps the best one was from my dad. I have heard from various coaches I have had and I will thank them all for this rise to the national team. I will keep the shirt, I will share it with my family”.
What are your emotions seeing Coverciano? What did Spalletti tell you?
“I’ve been here several times, but arriving here to respond to the call-up of the senior national team is a much greater emotion. I greeted the coach, I thanked him. This group is fantastic, a group of young people, we will do everything to do well” .
Who would you like to challenge? Which game would you like to play?
“Being here is a great emotion. Having to choose, I say Italy-France because it’s in Italy and at San Siro. Opponent? Whoever comes in front, against Lukaku with Belgium would be a great test.”