Juventus and Italy winger Federico Chiesa said he has ‘a lot to improve’ and revealed he has ‘a lot of hunger to win more’ after picking up the Coppa Italia and the European Championship.
The Bianconeri winger arrived from Fiorentina last summer and has established himself as a key member of Juventus and Italy.
Chiesa spoke to The Telegraph about the triumph at the Euros and the dramatic Final against England at Wembley.
“It was an amazing final, no?” Chiesa told the Telegraph, smiling. But he then admitted the early goal by Luke Shaw left Italy ‘a bit scared’.
“To be honest, that left us a bit scared because it felt strange. Usually, we did not concede and to do so early in a final was tough. But our humility, our mentality helped us cope.
“They [England] were amazing. The final was 50/50 and went to penalties and (Gianluigi) Donnarumma was the best player, saving two penalties. I mean he deserved man-of-the-match!”
Chiesa scored in the last 16 against Austria to write history during the European Championship, as Federico and Enrico became the first father and son to score in the competition.
“It was a big moment for my family to bring our name all around the world and in the history of football,” Chiesa added.
“Usually people ask me ‘having a father who played at such a high-level with the national team, with Parma, he won European cups, Coppa Italias, how difficult is it?’
“And I have always said that there was no pressure at all because my father helped me get to the point where I am at today and he did that when I wasn’t playing in youth teams. I was just focused on trying to achieve my dream, to play in Serie A, and my father helped me.
“The comparison is made every day. But he was a striker. I am a winger. I have arrived at the point when I can say that and left or right it doesn’t matter.”
Former Italy and Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli believes Chiesa has everything to become the best player in Europe, but the young winger doesn’t want to get carried away.
“No, there’s still a lot to do,” he said. “A lot to win, a lot to improve and one day I hope this becomes the truth.
“My game has to develop even more, and I have to show a lot more. The demands are getting higher because I have just won a tournament, I’m playing at Juve.
“But that’s also what I want. I want to give my best.”
Massimiliano Allegri returned to Juventus this summer, but the Bianconeri had a difficult start to the season.
The Old Lady has won their last two games in Serie A and face Chelsea in the Champions League tonight. The expectations and the pressure is not something that bothers Chiesa.
“After winning the Euros there is going to be more pressure on me and my team-mates but that is what we want,” he continued.
“It is why I decided to come here. The demands are higher, of course, at Juve because we want to win everything, and that pressure is the price you have to pay.
“Do I feel any different? I was so happy last year when I first came here and I know how Giorgio [Chiellini], Leo [Bonucci], all the players, the staff, the president, what the mentality is at Juventus.
“It was amazing, and it is still amazing now. It’s all about winning. There is nothing else. The fact that I have won a major tournament with Italy makes me even more enthusiastic to win more.
“I am 23. I have just won the European Championships with my country, and I am playing for Juve!
“But, you know, I have a lot of hunger to win more, to show more and to demonstrate more to everyone and to myself and to improve every year. And now let’s focus on Wednesday and we face Chelsea and Chelsea are a very, very big opponent.”