Calafiori: I've Spoken More with Gattuso Than My Mother Lately

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori spoke just 48 hours before Italy's crucial World Cup playoff opener against Northern Ireland, confirming his full fitness for the upcoming match.

"Physically, I'm in good shape. In such a delicate moment, we need to act as a cohesive team and focus solely on the first game. My thoughts on Northern Ireland? I prefer to concentrate on our squad, on my teammates, rather than the opposition. It's more about us than them. We're preparing for this as a regular match; we shouldn't let the pressure weigh us down," Calafiori stated, as quoted by "Gazzetta dello Sport."

"We must be vigilant during set pieces. In modern football, the margins between teams are incredibly fine. We also need to be sharp in winning second balls from the first whistle to the last. I'm hopeful it will be a game where we dominate and create the majority of the chances. That's why I believe unity and a positive mindset are paramount. In matches like these, mentality is key."

"I truly appreciate Coach Gattuso's attention; in recent months, I've spoken with him more often than with my own mother. During the period when I was playing less at Arsenal, he called me constantly. Our dinner together was great; it helped us stay connected. Who paid the bill? He did. It was a friendly evening where we discussed various topics, and even shared jokes, especially with Gattuso, Bonucci, and Buffon there – they have so many stories to tell," he added.

"The Champions League is incredibly tough. There are no Italian teams left, and from the English sides, only we (Arsenal) and Liverpool remain. The main difference between the English and Italian leagues is the intensity. Here, our training sessions are shorter because we play every three days. This helps us stay fresh for matches," the Italian observed.

"I don't believe we have a defensive problem with Italy. If we concede a goal, the blame lies with the entire team. At this point, there's no use dwelling on the past; we need to achieve the result we require. I like to remember our 5-0 victory against Estonia in Bergamo back in September. Why complicate our lives with negative thoughts? If we think positively, things will eventually fall into place. I'm not thinking about anything other than qualifying for the World Cup in America. We've dreamed of playing in a World Cup since we were kids," Riccardo Calafiori concluded.