The words of Giovanni Valenti, coach of Akademia Pandev Brera Strumica, regarding the game against the Azzurri
After a career in the youth teams of many teams in Italy, Giovanni Valenti he followed Goran Pandev on the bench Team of the former Macedonian striker. Below you will find his words about it Tuttosport on the Macedonia, Italy’s next opponent and bête noire.
FORECAST – «I believe Spalletti’s men will have the upper hand this time, even if it is played at home. However, when Macedonia meets Italy, anticipation is high and given their recent positive results, expectations are high to do well this time too. I don’t know if a real syndrome has been created for the Azzurri, but the fact is that Macedonia is now a mystery for our football. In September I was in the stands in Skopje and Italy got off to a very good start. After failing to score the second goal after Immobile’s goal, they gradually let up and the equalizer came from Bardhi, a first-class player, as well as Elmas, Miovski, Trajkovski and Ristovsky. The best players play abroad, but we must not forget that Askovski started that day and is still without a team today. Italy is stronger and will prove it».
THE MACEDONIA GAME – «Defensive, cautious and then focused on counterattacks. There will be the usual five-man defense, a low line in front of the goalkeeper, so that Italy don’t have to rush to score at all costs in the first few minutes. It requires patience, attention and concentration. I think it is now understood that Macedonia is not a boring team. He will try to stay in the game as much as possible in order to score another coup».
Young Italians are being trained – «Scalvini in Brescia, where I also had Cher Ndur, who I want to bet on because he will soon become a senior national team player. I had the pleasure of coaching Miretti at Juventus, an exceptional boy and first-class midfielder who now needs to develop further with the U21s, but I also expect his career to end up with the big boys in blue. In the U20 I had Colpani, a very strong, resourceful player who deserved this call-up».
YOUNG MACEDONIANS FOR SERIES A – «I look at the ones in my house and say the left-back Volkov, a 2006 player endowed with a non-trivial determination and competitiveness, and the 2005 attacking midfielder Gjorgevski, who can also play the central midfielder thanks to an excellent understanding of the game and who I already know is on the Notebook from Lecce stands and Sporting Lisbon. Two guys who could very well play in a Primavera 1 team in Italy next season. In the team I coach, I also point out the goalkeeper Alcevski, a U21 national player, and the left winger Krstevski, who is only 20 years old».
NOSTALGIA ITALY – «I’m very focused on this adventure, but I’m still very proud of my heritage and a fan of the national team».
LET’S GO TO THE EUROPEANS – «I really believe that. If North Macedonia allows it, the blue nightmare once again».
