Chiellini: "Italian football needs to rise"

Giorgio Chiellini He assured on Friday that “Italian football needs to rejuvenate” because the mentality is “too conservative”, and needs to “open up to change or it will all end”.

“Italian football needs to rejuvenate, the mentality is too conservative. Stadiums, events for the whole family, championship format: you have to be open to change or everything will end,” said the player from Juventus in an interview with ‘La Stampa’.

The Italian central defender considers that the change in rules is necessary for the safety of the good game, but in this world the new news is seen as “a threat”.

“We need to change the rules and above all the mentality. Even if the best innovative proposals struggle to be approved, there is too much conservatism. In football, news is seen as a threat rather than an opportunity, but in this way we run the risk of breaking the toy, ”he said.

Chiellini bet on a policy reform that includes some ‘play-offs’ to win championships: “I think in the format of championships, they should be reviewed. The ‘play-offs’ will provide unpredictability and suspense, it’s going to be an extraordinary event capable of involving millions of people. But the news is scary and never changes. “

The Turin team captain also gave Italian stadiums as an example, which he thinks need to be changed: “Let’s take the stadiums: everyone knows they need to be changed, we need structures that offer of events and attracting families to include children. and keep them close to our world. But you can’t build them, with a few exceptions. There’s always a bureaucracy problem or something blocking. “

In the decision to exclude Russian athletes and teams from competitions, the 2020 European champion was blunt: “Yes, there is no doubt. The federations that do not do so are wrong.”

“Politics should be as far away from sport as possible. But this time we are more, the war is different. I feel sorry for the athletes, but Russia should be hit in every possible way, except with the use of weapons. like Putin did, “he added.

The ‘azzurra’ team captain has yet to announce his future, although all indications are that he will leave Italy and head to American MLS. However, when his athletic career ended, Chiellini He made no secret that he was more attracted to offices than banks.

“As long as you’re a footballer you’re just focused there. And until now in my mind I’ve always been 100% a footballer, when you do this job it can only be that way. In the future I want to have a managerial path, if which will enhance the wealth of experience I have gained over the years and make it available in a new context, ”he reiterated.

Although he knew he still had a long way to go as a student: “I would have liked to take care of what was around the field, but it’s more. But first I have a lot to learn. I know the sport, but it’s not enough to do it well as a coach. ”

From Continassa (Sports city of the Juventus) I know everything, even with schemes. But what is going on in the office I have a superficial idea. My experience with ‘Sport Horizon’ (investment fund in new sports-oriented companies of which he is a partner) helps me, but you can’t improvise, “he said.