Chiellini: 'I'll skip Switzerland but we'll go to Qatar'

 '' Against Switzerland it is a direct elimination play-off, all that matters is reaching the goal, taking the pass for the World Cup and then we will have a year to prepare ourselves as best we can ''. Giorgio Chiellini will not be on the pitch at the Olimpico for Italy-Switzerland but will still be alongside his teammates: despite being forced to forfeit this morning due to an adductor problem accused before Juve-Fiorentina, the captain decided on Friday to go to Rome for support the Azzurri in this match that is worth more than half a ticket for Qatar 2022. An important appointment for which the coach, Roberto Mancini, will not have important men available, in addition to the captain, from Ciro Immobile to Lorenzo Pellegrini, up to Nicolò Zaniolo, even if Barella seems to have recovered and today he trained regularly.Chiellini, however, does not want to talk about an emergency situation and remarks: '' Switzerland also has many absences, all the national teams have too many, that of too dense calendars between the cup championship and the national team is a question that will be evaluated, we hope to be heard and find solution to protect the health of us players ''. In view of Friday, the captain expects a balanced game "In September in Basel we did well but we were not cynical enough to take advantage of the many opportunities created. We will therefore have to be lucid. For the rest - he added -, we are aware of our strength. I was hoping to make it, I thought it was a lighter thing but I need a few more days of rest, but this Italy has a great group, many good players, I am sure that we will play a great match against Switzerland.I am calm and confident, in the wake of what the coach said. '' What comes from so much conviction the captain of Juve and of the national team, meanwhile returning to Turin to be examined by the Juventus medical staff, explains clearly: `` Results and performances show how much we have grown in these three years, to all this is added the serenity by Mancini who is the architect of what has been done so far. Anyone who comes into the group raises their level. It is no coincidence that at the time I said that with the postponement of a year in the European Championship the young people could grow in experience, I am thinking of Donnarumma, Chiesa, Locatelli, Barella. Then there are the 30-year-old players Florenzi, Immobile Insigne, and the new ones who push, there is Tonali, we wait for Zaniolo ''.Chiellini stops some buzz about him and Bonucci absent with Juve but in retreat with the national team: '' Social controversy - cut short -. In society they know that Leo and I have always played in the past and also recently with problems that we have been carrying out for some time, the national team is important, it is a pride to be part of it, no one and a player, however, plays games to recover to play for us. Play who is ready, who is not right to leave it to others since there are so many of us ''. The experienced captain also talks about the future of football and argues that '' we need to reform the calendars and create new competitions. Fans also want more European matches. In Serie A we should go back to 18 teams or maybe 16. We have reached a point of no return. Institutions,clubs and players must come together to reform the calendar and create new competitions to revive this sport, which remains the best in the world but can be improved for me. In the US, they have created super alloys in every sport. "Finally a joke about the Var:" We romantics would like it to be abolished - he smiled - even if the world is moving forward and change must not be precluded ''