'The mess he was making!' - Gennaro Gattuso admits he wouldn't play himself in modern football as new Italy boss defends his playing style against 'gritty' reputation

Speaking at his unveiling press conference, Gattuso addressed questions regarding his reputation for aggressive and combative play style. The former midfielder and AC Milan legend defended his managerial record as he stressed the evolution of the modern player and the need for tailored management.

Gattuso takes over the Azzurri after Luciano Spalletti's dismissal following a 3-0 loss to Norway in World Cup qualifiers. Italy currently sit in the third spot of Group I, below Norway and Israel. Despite back-to-back World Cup qualification failures, Gattuso expressed optimism and confidence in the talent available, singling out several players he considers among top 10 globally in their positions.

Gattuso said: "Everyone thinks of Gattuso who runs, grit... I think that the teams I coached played good football. They told me not to say it but I'll say it: today I wouldn't put a Gattuso on the pitch in my team, with the mess he was making, the way I see football now. I like to keep up to date and talk about football, I know what kind of football I like. You have to get into the players' heads, not all are the same. Today the footballer is different, he is much more professional: they just have more difficulty working as a group, not only in the national team"

Italy will return in September to face Estonia in Bergamo before travelling to Hungary to meet Israel. With automatic qualification now unlikely, Gattuso’s side will aim to secure a play-off spot and avoid missing a third consecutive World Cup.