Midfielder Marco Verratti stresses the importance of teamwork ahead of Italy's Euro 2016 qualifier, and dismisses comparisons with others.
Verratti is among the few among the Azzurri to have impressed at the last World Cup and is one of the most valued Italian players today, but he is reluctant to take responsibility for the whole national team.
“Those are big words,” he said in today's press conference. “Unless you're [Lionel] Messi or [Diego Armando] Maradona, the national team cannot belong to a single person.
Midfielder Marco Verratti stresses the importance of teamwork ahead of Italy's Euro 2016 qualifier, and dismisses comparisons with others.
Verratti is among the few among the Azzurri to have impressed at the last World Cup and is one of the most valued Italian players today, but he is reluctant to take responsibility for the whole national team.
“Those are big words,” he said in today's press conference. “Unless you're [Lionel] Messi or [Diego Armando] Maradona, the national team cannot belong to a single person.
“I'll try doing my best if I'm given the chance. But it's the team we must be talking about. I know what the Coach wants from me and I'll try following up on his requests in the best possible way.
“It’s difficult to replace [Andrea] Pirlo,” he said, in reference to the Juventus playmaker who is currently out with injury.
“But I'm getting a sense of what the Coach wants from me.
“Being here gives me a lot of confidence. If one day I have to take his [Pirlo’s] place, I'll try my best.
“For now our minds are focused on Bulgaria, because the game counts towards qualifying.
“Playing there is never easy. We'll have go onto the pitch with the awareness that we are a great team. We want an important result.”