Montolivo: ‘Concerned about Italy players’ morale, I’d like to see Pio Esposito start’

Former Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo has expressed concern about the mental state of Gennaro Gattuso’s squad ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup playoff final against Bosnia, calling on the players to approach the match with freedom rather than anxiety.

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Speaking to Sky Sport, via TuttoMercatoWeb, Montolivo pointed to Italy’s nervy start against Northern Ireland as a warning sign.

“I am a little concerned about the morale of our players,” he said.

“The team must not start as tense as they did against Northern Ireland, they need to be loose. That is the key issue, and we are also playing away from home. The manager will have to work on the players’ mindset.”

Montolivo: ‘I’d like to see Pio Esposito start for Italy’

On potential selection changes, Montolivo backed Pio Esposito for a starting role.

“I would like to see him from the first minute,” he said, though he acknowledged the value of an impact substitute, noting that those who come off the bench are often more decisive than those who start.

In midfield, Montolivo saw no reason to change personnel, defending Manuel Locatelli despite some early difficulties in the Northern Ireland match.

“He is having an excellent season and deserves his place in the national team,” he said.

“The other night he had some early difficulties but it was purely a tactical issue to adjust, nothing more.” He suggested any tweaks should be positional rather than involving personnel changes.