Mattia Liberali has received his first call-up to the national team. Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has also opted for him for the Nations League matches against France (12 November) and Belgium (15 November). The Como player, formerly of AC Milan, spoke as follows at a press conference.
"A lot of things have happened in a short time. For me, it has been a wonderful week. We can say the best of my life. Cisse? At first, we played together at Catanzaro, then he got injured. It was a good year, but difficult at the beginning. The first few months were complicated. But during that period, you have to work even harder, and in the end, the rewards came. It was only the beginning."
"Fabregas is also demonstrating his worth as a coach. He is a great manager and has taken Como to compete in the Champions League and the league. Personally, he is helping me a lot. He has given me a great deal of confidence from the very first moment. So far, things are going very well, and I am also getting along very well with the group. There is a good group here in the national team too."
"Aquilani? I am sorry about his dismissal. Last year, he helped me enormously. I will write to him in the coming days. I am sorry he was unable to leave his mark at Sassuolo."
"At Como, I did not expect such a strong unity within the group, and the group makes a big difference. This certainly counts for a lot in international football. It is true that there are exceptional players everywhere, but unity and quality make the difference. Como is an excellent and important club. Obviously, it is not easy. The team's level is high, and you have to know how to make the most of your opportunities and be ready when the manager gives you the chance. It is a very ambitious and young environment."
On leaving AC Milan, Liberali said:
"Leaving Milan? I have no regrets. You have to make decisions with confidence and you should not look back. I am very happy for Cisse, who is managing to do that. It was not easy to leave Milan, but it is always important to look ahead."
