Serie A clubs cannot be blamed for the difficulties facing Italy coach Antonio Conte with the players needing to take greater responsibility claims former Parma and Juventus defender Lilian Thuram, believing that they should fight to improve the national team.
After the Azzurri struggled securing a point against Croatia and registering a narrow victory over Albania Conte is not set to see his players until March when European Championships qualification resumes and criticised the lack of planned sessions with his squad in the interim.
“Is there little interest in the national team? It is still the players who must to express their wishes to their clubs,” Thuram told Radio 24.
“The pressure from clubs has always been there, but the players have to make it clear to their teams that want to help the national team.”
The FIGC, Serie A clubs and Conte now appear set for a round of discussions to arrange that the 45-year-old will have time set aside to work with his players before the matches with Bulgaria and England at the end of March.
Follow Kevin Pogorzelski on Twitter: @rabbitrabbiton
