Former Italy CT Cesare Prandelli believes there are too many foreigners in youth academies – “I said the same things eight years ago…”
New Coach Roberto Mancini has had a difficult start with a draw and a loss in his first two competitive games, but one of his predecessors isn’t laying the blame at Mancio’s door.
“I said the same things eight years ago,” Prandelli explained to Tuttosport.
Former Italy CT Cesare Prandelli believes there are too many foreigners in youth academies – “I said the same things eight years ago…”
New Coach Roberto Mancini has had a difficult start with a draw and a loss in his first two competitive games, but one of his predecessors isn’t laying the blame at Mancio’s door.
“I said the same things eight years ago,” Prandelli explained to Tuttosport.
“I went to see the Supercoppa Italiana and there were two Italians out of 22. Too few. The problem is always the same: few Italians play and we struggle to produce to quality players.
“We’ve stopped working in the right way with the youth players and it’s our own fault. If we fill the youth teams with foreigners…
“Talent has to be helped to grow. The exceptions are [Federico] Bernardeschi and [Federico] Chiesa: they have all the characteristics they had as kids, they beat their man and that’s something we really need.
“They have physical strength, technique, and skill in one-on-ones. They both come from the Fiorentina youth teams and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.
“I wonder why there aren’t others like them in other youth systems.”