Former Juventus winger Emanuele Giaccherini has stirred the waters in Italian football by openly declaring that Antonio Conte, and not current boss Lu...
Former Juventus winger Emanuele Giaccherini has stirred the waters in Italian football by openly declaring that Antonio Conte, and not current boss Luciano Spalletti, remains the ideal figure to lead the Azzurri. Speaking exclusively to GoalZaza, the man who won three Serie A titles with the Old Lady did not mince words. Giaccherini admitted that he does not agree with the tactical direction of Spalletti, and he insisted that the powers that be at the Italian Football Federation must look towards a proven winner like Conte if they want to restore the nation. �s formidable reputation on the global stage. The former Italian international stressed that at the end of the day, Conte possesses the kind of fiery leadership and tactical discipline that the current Italy squad desperately requires. Giaccherini noted that while Spalletti has done some good work, the lion. �s share of the credit for Italy. �s recent resurgence belongs to the players rather than the manager. He argued that Conte, who is currently unattached after his spell at Tottenham Hotspur, can instil the resilience and clinical edge that the Azzurri displayed during their European Championship triumph. In the scheme of things, Giaccherini also turned his attention to his former club Juventus. He bemoaned the lack of strong personalities in the Bianconeri dressing room. According to him, the Turin giants need more leaders who can give a good account of themselves on the pitch and in the heat of battle. He pointed out that the days of stalwarts like Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini are gone, and the current crop must step up if they are to challenge for the Scudetto again. On the Nigerian front, this debate is of keen interest to Super Eagles supporters. With players like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman plying their trade in Italy, the direction of the national team under Conte or Spalletti could directly affect how these stars perform in friendly and competitive fixtures. The Nigerian internationals would certainly relish the chance to test themselves against a Conte drilled Italy, known for their tactical rigidity and never say die attitude. Back home in Lagos, fans gathered at the popular De Choice viewing centre in Surulere would nod in agreement with Giaccherini. They would argue that Conte is the kind of no nonsense generalissimo that Italy needs and that Spalletti is too soft for the big occasion. Over cold bottles of Maltina and fried plantain, these fans would insist that the Italian federation must act fast or risk falling further behind the likes of France and England. In Abuja, supporters at the Wuse Zone 4 hub would take to spirited debate, with some insisting that Spalletti deserves more time but the loudest voices would demand Conte be given the job immediately. They know that in football, only the strong survive.
