Italy is coming off a mixed international break, marked by a crucial victory against Moldova, followed by a heavy defeat against Norway that has plunged the country into doubt. As a direct consequence, the Azzurri will have to play a tense playoff against Northern Ireland in March to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup. In this climate of general tension, one name keeps coming up in discussions: Federico Chiesa . Still absent from Gennaro Gattuso 's squad , even though his profile is sorely missed by the team, the Liverpool winger remains an enigma: " We've spoken at length with Federico, he knows what I think of him, but we also have to respect what the player says: he doesn't feel 100% and he has some issues to resolve. There's no secret or scandal ," the former Marseille coach stated back in October. Ironically, his start to the club season had shown encouraging signs with two convincing goals against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, and three assists between the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
After a summer of rumors and uncertainty, Chiesa seemed to be regaining some momentum. But for Gattuso, caution prevailed initially. As long as the player didn't feel mentally and physically ready, he refused to rush his return. Now, Gattuso seems irritated by the player's stance: " I speak to him often, and we have to respect each other's decisions and problems. I know what we say to each other, I have to respect what the player tells me. I can't say anything more, it's the truth. Yes, yes… It's easy to understand, " Gattuso also explained a few days ago. So, is this a firm decision from Gattuso or a refusal from the player to come? It's difficult to read between the lines. This firm stance from the coach, who arrived in haste after the crisis that erupted under Luciano Spalletti, is sparking heated debate, as Italy's problem is now glaring: the Nazionale lacks players capable of making the difference in one-on-one situations, of unlocking a compact defense. Against Norway, Nusa's talent, already brilliant in Oslo, once again highlighted the Azzurri's shortcomings, namely their slow transitions, their lack of unpredictability, and their absence of penetration. Whether it's Orsolini, Zaccagni, or Politano, none possesses the same explosiveness, or even the same attacking flair, as Chiesa in crucial moments.
Chiesa essential to Italy
Gennaro Gattuso, who has only four months to prepare for a playoff that could be decisive for the future of Italian football, knows that this type of player is rare and that removing the attacking axis from an already fragile project is a huge risk: “Will he be there? Keep asking me, but it’s not up to me to decide. It’s up to him. The problem is Chiesa, you know that. I always call him, I talk to him before the squad announcements, but the problem isn’t that Gattuso doesn’t see him. The problem is him,” Gattuso reiterated during the World Cup playoff draw on Thursday. As for Gianluigi Buffon, head of the Italian delegation, the assessment seems similar: “ We need to get all our best players back: if one of them stands out, there’s no reason to hold him back, especially since we need him.” We're waiting for Chiesa because there are few like him in Europe. But Rino hasn't overlooked any deserving player. I repeat, it's the team that counts… .” This sense of urgency reawakens collective memory , since Federico Chiesa was, not so long ago, the spark that propelled Italy to the European title in 2021. His goals, his character, and his ability to turn a match around made him the attacking leader of an ambitious and conquering team. But the following years were marked by injuries at Juventus, then by difficulties adapting at Liverpool. The winger seems to be oscillating between two worlds: a Premier League that offers him space, but few guarantees, and a Serie A that he watches from afar, sometimes with nostalgia. His appearances remain sporadic, his confidence still fragile.
And yet, with every flash of brilliance on an English pitch, Italy tells itself that it still possesses a player capable of single-handedly changing the course of a match. The big question remains, the one fueling discussions in Turin, Rome, and London: what will Federico Chiesa do between now and January? And above all, what will Gattuso do? Italy, more than ever under pressure after two consecutive missed World Cups , cannot afford another failure. The playoff against Northern Ireland is seen as a sword of Damocles hanging over the Azzurri: “Northern Ireland is a physical team, with a fighting spirit. We have to be competitive, we knew that. We know where we're going and that we have to improve. They are well within our reach, and we can put them under pressure in a single match. They are very strong physically and play a lot of second balls. It will require a great performance, but we can compete. A possible final against Wales or Bosnia?” "First, we need to discuss the match against Northern Ireland, where everything is at stake. We'll see after that; those would be two completely different situations. But for now, we're not talking about it , " the coach insisted . In this context, the relationship between Chiesa and Gattuso is taking on the appearance of a silent tug-of-war. On one side, a convinced and impatient coach is making public overtures to Chiesa, essentially putting pressure on him. On the other, an entire nation is convinced that its most talented winger remains indispensable. The future of the Azzurri could well depend on this reconciliation. And in this Italy that's running out of steam , a single dribble from Federico Chiesa could be enough to change the course of history.
0 Comments