Twelve of Sassuolo's players called up for the national team. A source of great pride for the nero-verde club, the just reward at the end of a great season. From Locatelli to Raspadori in U21, to the first time in the national team of Ciccio Caputo. "In his role, he is a professor - De Zerbi tells Sky Sport - There are not many Italian forwards stronger than him".
De Zerbi admitted to having received the news with a pinch of emotion: "I live it like them, with the same enthusiasm - he admits - For Sassuolo and for me it is a source of great pride to have 12 players in the national team. The environment is crucial. Locatelli has also grown on the field with the help of his older teammates who have pointed him in the right way. Caputo has been well welcomed and has become decisive ".
The risk, however, is also to lose your jewels, above all Locatelli, followed by Juventus: "I know we must be ready to replace them, but it is not so automatic - explains De Zerbi - If they remain we are much happier".
For Sassuolo there is a season to prepare and numbers to improve after the eighth place in the last championship: "We are coming out of a wonderful season - says the coach - we will try to improve our ranking. Everything can be improved: we can do more goals, we need to take less and fix 3-4 aspects that have conditioned us. "
Among the opponents who he'll find on the bench there is also Andrea Pirlo: "He is a predestined - he concludes - He was as a player, I think he can do well also as a coach. It is true that experience is needed, but somebody has become a great coach even without going through ranks".
