Gianluigi Donnarumma was furious with Italy’s performance, but also the interviewer after a 5-2 Nations League loss to Germany. ‘If you want to cause controversy and blame me, then fine, I’ll take that.’
It was an embarrassing night for Italy in Monchengladbach, crushed 5-2 by Germany and dominated throughout the match.
The score was 5-0 until late consolation goals from Willy Gnonto and Alessandro Bastoni, both finding the net for the first time in the Italy jersey.
“We are angry. There are no excuses, we have to get back out there and prove this is not us. There are simply no excuses,” Donnarumma told RAI Sport.
“We were lacking everything tonight. There was also some fatigue after four games in 15 days at the end of the season, but we don’t want to seek alibis. Now we will look each other in the eye and analyse everything.
“We’re really disappointed for the fans, for what they saw tonight. We had a few chances, but it’s not good enough. We’ll analyse everything and start again.
“All of us made mistakes. I could’ve dealt with the situation better at 4-0 and kicked it away, but you learn from mistakes and grow. Now we just have to rest and come back much stronger than this.”
There was some real irritation from Donnarumma with the interviewer when she pointed out it was ‘not the first time’ he had struggled with back-passes and playing out from the back.
“When did it happen before? When I was fouled against Real Madrid? If we want to cause controversy over these things, then fine, I am here to talk for the team. If you want to blame me, fine, I’ll take the blame, I am the captain and I keep going with head held high.
“I think you’re all trying to create something about these errors, fine.”
Donnarumma was also very angry with Kimmich after the final whistle, because the midfielder tried to lob him from midfield with the last kick of the game when it was already 5-2, something the PSG goalkeeper considered to be disrespectful.
It was the first time the Nazionale had conceded five goals since May 1957 against Yugoslavia in the Central European International Cup.