Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci has praised the arrival of Antonio Conte to the Azzurri bench last summer in the wake of Cesare Prandelli’s departure, lifting the squad after a difficult World Cup.
The 28-year-old believes that bringing in a man who had just won three consecutive titles at Juventus gave the players a project they could all get behind.
“After the tragedy that was our World Cup it was good that the coach could arrive and bring positivity,” Bonucci told the press.
“It was difficult for [former coach Cesare] Prandelli to leave, but we are grateful for the arrival of Conte, it was the news of the season.
“He has been a good fit for this national team, just as he had been at Juventus.”
Speaking of their disastrous World Cup campaign last summer the Bianconeri centre-back seemed to criticise his Prandelli’s decision to have the squad undertake rigorous fitness testing in Brazil.
“When we started the World Cup with Prandelli the conditions were very different from those that then turned out,” stated the defender. “Therefore, we wasted a bit too much time doing testing and analysis.
“We spent many mornings in front of a computer, more than on the pitch, and when you only have a little time, you have to take advantage of what time you have.
“As a team it is always good to be on the pitch as much as possible.”
Ahead of the Azzurri’s friendly with Portugal in Switzerland on Tuesday night the defender also highlighted the benefits of playing top-level opposition in non-competitive fixtures.
“A game against a side like Portugal helps to keep the tension [in the squad] high,” claimed Bonucci. “And then there are those on the bench that have a better chance to come on.”
