Italy is coming out of a contrasting international break, marked by an essential victory against Moldova, followed by a heavy defeat against Norway which plunged the country into doubt. Direct consequence: the Azzurri will have to play a tense play-off against Northern Ireland in March to hope to secure their ticket for the 2026 World Cup. In this climate of general nervousness, one name keeps coming up in the debates, that of Federico Chiesa. Still absent from Gennaro Gattuso’s selection, even though his profile is sorely lacking in the team, the Liverpool winger remains an enigma: “We spoke 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 problems to resolve. There are no secrets or scandals», Already affirmed the former OM coach in October. Ironically, his start to the club season had nevertheless shown encouraging signs with two convincing goals against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, three assists between the Premier League and the Carabao Cup.
After a summer of rumors and uncertainties, Chiesa seemed to be getting back on track. But for Gattuso, caution initially prevailed. As long as the player did not feel ready mentally and physically, he refused to rush his return. Now, Gattuso seems to be annoyed by the player’s posture: “I talk 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 detailed a few days ago. So firm decision from Gattuso or refusal of the player to come? Difficult to read between the lines. This firm position of the coach, who arrived urgently after the open crisis under Luciano Spalletti, gives rise to lively debates, because the Italian problem is now glaring: the Nazionale lacks players capable of creating the difference in the one-on-one, of dynamiting a compact defense. Against Norway, the talent of Nusa, already brilliant in Oslo, once again highlighted the Azzurri’s shortcomings, namely the slowness in transitions, the lack of unpredictability, as well as the absence of percussion. Whether it’s Orsolini, Zaccagni or Politano, none possess the same explosiveness, or even offensive talent, as Chiesa in crucial moments.
Chiesa essential to Italy
Gennaro Gattuso, who has only four months to prepare a potentially decisive play-off for the future of Italian football, knows that this type of profile is rare and that removing the offensive axis from an already fragile project is running an enormous risk: “Will he be there?” Keep asking me, but it’s not up to me to decide. It’s up to him to decide. The problem comes from Chiesa, you know that well. I always call him, I talk to him before the summons, but the problem is not that Gattuso doesn’t see him. The problem is him”Gattuso repeated again during the draw for the World Cup play-offs on Thursday. As for Gianluigi Buffon, head of the Italian delegation, the observation seems to be similar: “we need to get all our best players back: if one of them stands out, there is no reason to keep him, especially since we need him. We are waiting for Chiesa because there are few like him in Europe. But Rino didn’t leave out any deserving player. I repeat, it’s the collective that counts…“. This feeling of urgency reactivates the collective memory, since Federico Chiesa was, not so long ago, the spark that carried Italy to the European title in 2021. His goals, his character and his ability to turn a match around then made him the offensive leader of an ambitious and conquering team. But the following years were marked by injuries at Juventus, then by difficulties adapting to Liverpool. The winger seems to oscillate between two worlds: a Premier League which offers him space, but few guarantees, and a Serie A which he watches from afar, sometimes with nostalgia. His appearances remain sporadic, his confidence still fragile.
And yet, with each flash on an English pitch, Italy tells itself that it still has a player capable of changing the destiny of a match single-handedly. The big question then remains, the one that drives the 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 blockade against Northern Ireland is seen as a sword of Damocles hanging over the Nazionale: “Northern Ireland are a physical team, with a fighting mentality. We have to be competitive, we knew that. We know where we are going and that we must progress. They are well within our reach, and we can put them in trouble in a single match. They are very strong physically and play second balls a lot. It will take a great performance, but we can compete. A possible final against Wales or Bosnia? We must first comment on the match against Northern Ireland, where everything is at stake. We will see then, these would be two completely different contexts. But for now, we’re not talking about it.”insisted the coach. In this context, the relationship between Chiesa and Gattuso takes on the appearance of a silent standoff. On the one hand, a convinced and impatient coach who launches real public invitations in the form of pressure to Chiesa. On the other, an entire country convinced that its most talented winger remains indispensable. The future of the Azzurri could well depend on this rapprochement. And in this Italy which is running out of steam, a single dribble from Federico Chiesa could be enough to change the course of history.
