Sara Gama excluded, coach Bertolini: “I have the right to make choices” – Football

“Don’t think I made this choice lightly.” Women’s Italy begins its adventure towards the World Cup in Australia from the training camp in Riscone, but everyone’s thoughts are with those who are not there: Sarah Gama, excluded captain of the blues. The ct Milena Bertolini he doesn’t hide: he defends his choice, he almost claims it because “as a coach I have the right and the duty to make decisions” and swears that “the motivation is mainly technical-tactical and physical, ours is a rapidly growing movement and there are many young people who are growing and doing very well, in the football proposal I want there are players who I think are ahead”.

Bertolini: “Gama excluded? I have the right to choose”

There is only one factor on which Bertolini’s answers become muddled. And they concern the only aspect that Gama contested – calmly – in his open letter via social network: the timing of the decision, communicated to the captain only on Wednesday, after having initially included it in the pre-calls. In short, perhaps Sara’s curriculum would have deserved more attention. “I needed time to resolve the last doubts – Bertolini defended himself – but there is no right time to say something so important: I had doubts, when I resolved them I telephoned her”. Her choice, however, caused some annoyance in the blue dressing room and not even the coach denies it: “it’s natural that the team is sorry for the absence of those who made the history of the movement and of the national team. Most of the players have known each other and have been playing together for a very long time, often there is a relationship that goes beyond the pitch but, as mentioned, my role requires me to make choices. The girls arrived here with great enthusiasm and are focused on the goal of getting through the group.”

“Gama in the delegation? It’s not for me to say.”

More cryptic, the coach, on the possibility that Sara Gama participate in the World Cup within the blue delegation: “It’s not within my competence, the decision is up to the FIGC, I take care of the pitch”. The Football Federation had actually proposed her to follow the team to the World Cup to make her experience but also her recognizability available to the movement. But she wants to understand if her presence is welcome or not. Of course, the coach’s icy words don’t seem like an invitation to be part of the expedition.