Conte: 'Respect the shirt...or else!'
Evidently, Conte believes they lack commitment, and he made everyone well aware of it after witnessing the unveiling of the new Italy shirt on Monday.
"To have worn the Azzurri shirt and coached the team is a unique privilege, a great pleasure, and it's given me a lot of joy.
"I don't believe the privilege that is wearing the shirt needs to be explained to anyone, those who don't understand it are unfit to wear it, but I can count on the players who embody its spirit, and that's very important".
“It’s not fair to only think about the Insigne situation. It’s not a subjective matter. He’s not an exception, I’m following what I told the players when we began this campaign, we’re trying to build on this month by month”.
“We think about good stories, like De Silvestri’s call-up. He fractured his knee playing for the Azzurri, and we decided to call up at the first opportunity. That’s what I’m looking for, players who are totally available”.
“Another example is Verratti who played in Azerbaijan despite risking injury. Others would have raised the white flag to avoid missing club games”.
On Stefano Okaka and Alessio Cerci: “I can’t keep account of everyone who has taken part in our journey, a journey that has allowed us to qualify in first place and go unbeaten. Okaka typifies the interesting player who is doing well."
"The same goes for Cerci, and who is performing more consistently. After these two games we’ll only have two more before having to choose our final 23, I’m encountering a lot of difficulty”.
On the Italian model: “Every model has an expiry date. It takes time for something to stick, and for it become to become a reference, a standard, something to be followed."
“My system is based around the quality of the play, I want my team to control the game and get fans excited. I work for that, and I hope that whoever is watching us will see good football and recognizes themselves in us”.
On Pirlo and Giovinco: “Sebastian isn’t here because of a knee injury. Otherwise he’d be here. Andrea’s non-selection was planned for, he’s not played in two weeks because the MLS regular season is over.
"I also need to evaluate the situation. I have immense respect for Pirlo, and he knows in what kind of esteem I hold him, and I need to be impartial in my analysis”.
“Andrea is going on 37, we need to see. The regular season begins again in March, I’ll need to look at everything around me, and take into consideration the possibility that Pirlo no longer plays on the national team”.
On Bernardeschi: "Were he to continue to offer both quality and quantity in his performances, we’ll keep him in consideration. From here till June there are places available”.
