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The new coach of the Italian national team, Roberto Donadoni, in his presentation to the media in Rome stated that he will continue the work started by Marcello Lippi, who led the team to win the World Cup and then resigned. Donadoni also encouraged Francesco Totti to continue representing his country.
The 42-year-old R. Donadoni, who previously coached "Lecco", "Genoa" and "Livorno" clubs, and as a player won many titles with "Milan" in the last decade, was appointed as the national team's strategist just four days after Italy's triumph in the World Cup.
"I am very proud to be the coach of the Italian national team. I will dedicate myself entirely to my work. I already have a clear vision of how Italy will play in the future. I will try to follow the path set by Marcello Lippi and give continuity to his excellent work. However, I will also try to introduce my own ideas about football to the team. Coaching a team that has just won the World Cup is a great responsibility, but it's better to start from the triumph in Berlin than from a few poor results. I will try to build on the enthusiasm created by the joy experienced in Berlin."
R. Donadoni will lead "Squadra Azzurra" as Italy is still recovering from the football-corruption scandal. The Sports Tribunal decided to relegate three famous clubs to a lower league, which may result in the sale of their best players. However, the coach assures that this will not hinder preparation for the European Championship qualifying matches, which Italians will start with a game against Lithuania on September 2nd.
"Our leagues have many talented players, and this will be beneficial to me. Even if some players leave their clubs, they will still play in good teams. There is no law saying that the national team must only consist of players playing in Serie A. I will not exclude anyone. If there are good players from Serie B, they will have the opportunity to play," said R. Donadoni, who signed a two-year contract with the Italian Football Federation.
One of the coach's first tasks will be to convince one of the country's most talented players, F. Totti, to remain in the national team: "I hope Francesco Totti stays in the national team. He is a player who would be irreplaceable in any team. I will talk to him and find out his plans, and then act accordingly. We need players like him, so I hope he will continue to play."
