Matteo Darmian: “It’s emotional to go back to Turin, we’ll give everything to go to the World Cup”

Italian National Team

From the pitch in Rescaldina with around 15,000 inhabitants to the green grass at Old Trafford, Matteo Darmian’s long adventure in football saw him score his only Italy goal in October 2015 in Azerbaijan in a match which secured qualification for Antonio Conte’s side to EURO 2016.

A place in the play-off is at stake in the matches against FYR Macedonia and Albania which is now the route to the World Cup and the Manchester United defender wants to play an important role. “We have to concentrate on these two matches which will allow us to make the play-offs,” said Darmian at his press conference. “We all want to go to the World Cup and we’ll do everything to make it. We’re certainly without some important players but we have great quality and we’ll get by the absences in the best of ways.”

Darmian made 133 appearances for Torino and he’s returning to the city where he came on the most as a player. “It’s a great feeling to come back to Turin, I spent some fantastic years here. Macedonia are a good team, in the other leg we were ahead and controlling the match before a 20-minute blackout when they scored twice, we did well not to fall apart and hang on for an important win. They’ll want to get a result on Friday but we’re preparing well for the match and we’ll take to the pitch to win.”

In Manchester, it’s not always easy to find space in the team with all the great players. “I made a decision and I don’t regret it, like every player I want to play as much as possible and I work during the week so it’s not easy for the manager to make decisions. I always watch Italian football, there might be a possibility to return and I will evaluate my options. Is the Premier League a different world to Serie A? No, they’re two different styles. The Premier League is more physical and less tactical and this means the play is quick and dynamic.” Darmian also compared his club and international coaches. “They’re both coaches who take care of the details, Ventura possibly focuses more on tactics and Mourinho on management. They’re two great coaches and I’m fortunate to be trained by them.”

The defeat in September to Spain has been put behind the team now (“The negativity came from outside, inside we were calm”) and Italy looking for Ciro Immobile to help create a path to the World Cup finals. “Ciro is doing great things, I played with him for a year, he has great quality and he’s showing that. I hope that his goals can give us a hand.”

Squad list

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Genoa);
Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Leonardo Spinazzola (Atalanta), Davide Zappacosta (Chelsea);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Cagliari), Bryan Cristante (Atalanta), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Marco Parolo (Lazio);
Wingers: Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Inter), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Verdi (Bologna);
Forwards: Eder Citadin Martins (Inter), Manolo Gabbiadini (Southampton), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Roberto Inglese (Chievo).

Source:  figc.it

Italy Schedule

Tuesday 3rd October
13:45 Meeting with the press (players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Wednesday 4th October
13:45 Meeting with press (Players)
16:30 Training (First 15 minutes open to press.)

Thursday 5th October
10:00 Training MD-1  (First 15 minutes open to press.)
16:20 Travel from Florence to Turin
17:45 Walk Around
18:00 Press conference with coach and one player Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino

FYR Macedonia’s  MD-1 Schedule (Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino)
10:00 Training MD-1 at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino (First 15 minutes open to press.)
17:00 Press conference with coach and one player

Friday 6th October
20:45 ITALY vs. FYR MACEDONIA
Meetings with press afterwards

Saturday 7th October
17:00 Training at the  Stadio Filadelfia (open to press)

Sunday 8th October
10:00 Training MD-at Sisport (First 15 minutes open)
15:45 Travel from Turin to Tirana
17:40 Flight lands  in Tirana and transfer toLoro-Boriçi stadium in Shköder (Around 1h 30m)
19:30    Walk Around
20:00    Press conference with coach and one player at Loro-Borici Stadium

Monday 9th October
20:45 ALBANIA vs. ITALY

Meetings to follow and transfer to Tirana airport before flights to Milan and Rome