Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy’s goalkeeper, gave an exclusive interview to Camel Live today and talked about Italy’s prospects in the World Cup playoffs.
You dropped a ball in the last game, but luckily it didn’t lead to serious consequences...“Yes, you can’t even imagine how angry I was at that moment...”
Italy has failed to qualify for the World Cup twice in a row.“A third time won’t happen—it’s impossible. This national team will definitely qualify for the next World Cup, no doubt about it.”
No doubt? You seem very confident...“Lessons from the past only matter if you truly learn from them. We won’t underestimate any opponent or take things lightly; there’s no point in doing that. Besides, this team has a lot of affection for each other. When the playoffs come, we’ll be fully prepared.”
The time is not far off—the March playoffs will start soon.“During this period, we have better adapted to the head coach’s tactics, better digested his ideas, and turned his football philosophy into practical strength.”
Let’s step away from the national team topic for a moment—do you still like Serie A?“Of course, I do. I think Serie A is very interesting now, and as long as it’s interesting, it will attract attention.”
First Paris, now Manchester—your experience is almost unique.“I’m lucky to have experienced such different football realities: from Ligue 1 to the Premier League. I just arrived in England, and from an onlooker’s perspective, I can say that our football is no worse than any other league.”
But people often say that the spotlight on Serie A is not as bright as that on the Premier League...“In England, everyone runs hard from the first minute to the last minute of the game. It’s not exactly the same here, but that doesn’t mean one is better than the other. That’s just how it is—each has its own style.”
Who will win this season’s Serie A title?“There are four or five teams that have the strength to compete until the end. And it’s precisely because of this that Serie A has become interesting again.”
Which team do you think is most likely to win the title in the end?“I like AC Milan. Their transformation makes me curious. They have Massimiliano Allegri, but they’re a contender not just because of him.”
So that means AC Milan has a chance to win the title?“AC Milan is an ambitious team. I’ve talked to some people who know the environment at Milan, and they firmly believe in the team’s potential—and that belief is correct.”
What about other teams?“Inter Milan’s strength is beyond doubt; it’s a mature unit that keeps improving from recent experiences. Napoli has Antonio Conte, a Serie A title-winning coach, who has brought energy and ability. Gian Piero Gasperini’s new AS Roma has great potential. And we can’t ignore Juventus—this season will definitely be exciting.”
How do you feel when you listen to Pep Guardiola speak?“Although I haven’t been at Man City for long, this place makes me feel at home. The club has been very firm with me and made me feel valued; now they already see me as one of their own.”
What about Guardiola himself?“You’re deeply drawn in when you listen to him speak. I imagined he would be like this, but the reality is even better than I thought. I hope to stay in Manchester for a long time; this will be a unique experience.”
Guardiola is fascinating, and what about Gennaro Gattuso...“Gattuso has a strong presence—you can feel that he’s right behind you every moment of the game. He loves to communicate, talks a lot, and explains everything to us. Soon, he helped this team regain a strong sense of collective identity.”
Will he also lead you back to the World Cup?“The word ‘playoffs’ doesn’t scare us or put psychological pressure on us.”
In this national team, people often say the team atmosphere is healthy, united, and positive—is that true?“I can say for sure that this new Italy team is indeed healthy, good, and united. We get along well and have a lot of understanding with each other.”
