Young Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci has shared his thoughts on his first start for the Italian national team in their impressive 3-1 victory over France. Despite being a debutant, Ricci’s performance was praised for its maturity and composure.
When asked about his calm demeanor during the match, Ricci told La Gazzetta dello Sport, “It went well, and I’m happy because at the beginning the emotion was overwhelming. We started with the handbrake on, but then we recovered and put all our qualities on the field. Conceding after twelve seconds gave us a wake-up call, and we brought out our personality.”
Ricci credited the team’s defensive structure and his midfield partners for the successful performance. “The center-backs put in a great performance because they inserted themselves on my line and gave me a hand in the build-up. That was the key, along with the switches of play,” he explained.
The midfielder also expressed his gratitude to Italy coach Luciano Spalletti, who had praised Ricci’s potential to become a world-class regista. “I thank him. At Torino, I play further forward, but I played as a holding midfielder at Empoli and I know a little about how to move. The midfielder’s role is a different, more ‘intelligent’ run to cover spaces,” Ricci commented.
When asked about his preferred position, Ricci demonstrated his versatility: “There isn’t one I prefer. I like playing in a double pivot because you have to be ready for both phases. I feel comfortable as a mezzala because I can go further forward, but I’m also at ease in front of the defense.”
Ricci also acknowledged the importance of his time at Torino in his development. “Torino has helped me tremendously. Both Juric’s work and Vanoli’s. Last season’s play completed me from a physical point of view, of interception and maneuvering,” he said.
Reflecting on the significance of the win against France, Ricci stated, “For me, in recent years, we’ve unconsciously felt inferior to other national teams. This is just one game, but it should make us think that we have a lot of quality, like other top teams, and if we add personality, we can challenge anyone.”
Despite the praise, Ricci remains grounded about his position in the national team. “I shouldn’t feel and don’t feel like the starting regista. I know how football works: it takes little to go backwards. We need to think game by game and always try to improve,” he concluded.
