Please rest assured, we will prevail in 2034. Guardiola has said no, but the Italian football world claims to have a plan

Guardiola’s refusal came in the middle of the night, when dreams turn into nightmares. It was lovely to believe in it; it will be incredibly tough to get used to Plan B, which – given Ancelotti’s initial refusal – is almost Plan C. But the ‘Salva Italia’ initiative presented by MML, the new triumvirate of Italian football, is a precise project, designed to have a profound impact and leave its mark, and it must start with a head coach who is not merely a selector for the senior national team, but a man with whom to rebuild the entire footballing structure. “We’re looking for synergy, a harmony of thought between the manager and the technical directorate. We’re here to set the direction,” explained Maldini and Leonardo the other day at the Lega Calcio. They approached Ancelotti; they went to court Guardiola. They aimed for the very best. After all, they are winners, as they emphasised by waiving bonuses and incentives in their contract. It was right to give it a go, and never mind if Pirlo now feels like little more than a spare tyre, a Plan B, or even a Plan C. Not least because he should actually feel rather fortunate, considering he wasn’t managing Real Madrid or even Sampdoria, but a Serie B side in Dubai. Maldini and Leonardo see in him the right potential to carry out their programme. Malagò, who has identified ‘sharing’ as the watchword for their relationship, can only agree, despite his friendship with Mancini and the pressure from certain Serie A chairmen in favour of Antonio Conte. The new manager will not only have to oversee the senior national team, but also set the rules of the game for all youth teams and the football academy. A far-reaching role destined to go well beyond simply qualifying for the next World Cup. It’s an approach that makes sense if the aim is to leave a lasting legacy. Not the classic hit-and-run approach: ‘Let’s win straight away; too bad for whoever comes after us.’ And this explains why Antonio Conte wasn’t considered. He’s the best at delivering immediate results, but he’s also the sort who likes to change restaurants frequently – and usually without leaving a generous tip. The MML aims to build for the long term, not to win straight away.

But here lies the problem with ‘Salva Italia’. It’s a question of timing because, as Malagò said: ‘I, who hope to be re-elected, am talking about six years; Paolo, to rebuild football, is talking about as many as eight to ten’. Who on earth has the patience to wait 8–10 years? It’s all very well to plan and rebuild, but 8–10 years in sport is an eternity. No chairman could ever accept such a timeframe for his team, and indeed Urbano Cairo has already spoken out on the matter, voicing what many are thinking (perhaps Torino fans might have something to say about that, but that’s another matter). Everyone likes the MML. Malagò has once again shown himself to be a master of persuasion in winning over Paolo Maldini, but we cannot ask Italians to be patient for another 8–10 years. The first results must be seen straight away – first at the European Championship and then at the World Cup. Building is all well and good, but whilst we’re digging to lay the foundations, we need to start achieving results. Let’s not forget that we didn’t make it to the World Cup because we were knocked out on penalties. Italian football is not in good shape, but we cannot wait until the 2034 World Cup. Starting with small steps and having a long-term vision is all well and good, but we need to see some results between now and 8–10 years’ time. Perhaps not within the first 100 days, but we’ll need to see some signs of life at the European Championship. Even if, with Pirlo rather than Guardiola, the climb will be even steeper.