Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli is pleased his team’s critics are struggling to work out their formation, insisting the Azzurri want to be unpredictable.
Italy Coach Cesare Prandelli is pleased his team’s critics are struggling to work out their formation, insisting the Azzurri want to be unpredictable.
Prandelli and his players touched down in Brazil this morning and will now embark upon the final stages of their preparations for this summer’s World Cup.
The Azzurri attracted heavy criticism from some quarters after their surprise friendly draw with Luxembourg on Wednesday but, speaking at his first Press conference since arriving in Rio, Prandelli expressed his happiness with his side’s progress.
“I’ve watched the game again and I saw that the team followed the instructions that we gave them,” he told the assembled media. “
“For an hour the team didn’t suffer any counter-attacks and we created four scoring opportunities.
“Then, when we changed the formation, the balance of the match changed. My optimism is this – often when you listen to critics you can experience feeling of great doubt.
“However, watching the game again, you realise that good things were done.
“My mood is related to what has been done and what needs to be done. After a match you analyse the errors and the things you did well. Once you have spoken to the team about everything, your mood becomes one of great optimism.
“If you haven’t worked it out [the formation] it shows we are on the right track. We don’t want anyone to understand anything, these are matches that will be played on certain balances.
“We are considering the possibility of having one more player in midfield, but we still haven’t decided.”
Prandelli also praised Italy’s training facilities at their new base.
“My first impressions are good. The training pitch is great and so is the building. There are all the ideal conditions needed to start our preparations for this summer’s World Cup.”