Gattuso: ´I´ll put my ego aside´ for Italy´s World Cup push

Gennaro Gattuso has suggested he’s willing to adapt his tactics as Italy prepare for their World Cup qualifiers against Estonia and Israel, insisting he’s ready to “put my ego aside” if a change in formation is what the Azzurri needs.

Gattuso, who took over from Luciano Spalletti in June, has posted a 100% record so far, with two victories against Israel and Estonia last month.

Italy currently trail Norway in their qualifying group and cannot afford to drop points when they travel to Estonia on Saturday before hosting Israel in Udine next Tuesday.

The Italians are at risk of failing to qualify for their third consecutive World Cup, having missed out on the previous two instalments of the competition in Russia and Qatar, respectively.

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“There are many things we need to fix,” Gattuso said in his pre-match press conference.

“It’s not just about the defence, but about being able to sniff out danger in all areas of the pitch. At the same time, there are also many positives.

“We allowed Israel back into the game ourselves and were lucky to take the result home. We’ve got to improve our attitude — it’s not about the tactical system.”

Gattuso’s side racked up 10 goals during September’s international break, after a 5-0 demolition of Estonia, before a dramatic 5-4 victory over Israel.

“A coach must be able to do it all. I have to set my ego aside and do what is best for the team,” Gattuso added.

“I don’t really like a three-man defence much, but that doesn’t matter — I will always choose the best system for these players.

“The situation has improved a lot since last month as the players have more minutes in their legs.”