Pellegrini on goal routine and Italy ‘family’

Lorenzo Pellegrini jokes about his stunning goal in Italy’s 2-0 win over Ecuador and wants the Azzurri to be ‘one big family’ going into Euro 2024.

The Roma midfielder has carried his improved club form to international level by smashing in from outside the box after just three minutes at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey.

It was originally a Federico Dimarco free kick, but when it bounced back off the wall, Pellegrini was ready with a ferocious half-volley. Was that a new set-piece routine?

“We talked it over, it was a good spot for a left-footer, so I told Dimarco to go and score. Instead, it went a different way, but we’re happy anyway!” joked Pellegrini on RAI Sport.

This completed the American tour for the Nazionale, who beat Venezuela 2-1 on Thursday in Fort Lauderdale.

“These were two high-level friendly tests, two very different games. In the first match, Gigio Donnarumma helped us out by saving the penalty, whereas today we broke the deadlock straight away.

“This allows us to continue our journey, now we must work hard and be united, to reach the Euros as one big family. It was a fantastic welcome from the Italian-American fans, it felt like we were playing at home.”

Pellegrini was originally in the squad for Euro 2020 and then had to pull out due to injury, watching his teammates go on to lift the trophy at Wembley Stadium.

He hopes to make up for that this summer in Germany by being a key part of the squad in a more advanced trequartista role behind the striker.

“I expect a great deal from myself and from all my teammates. We need to be a solid group, a family, which means we can all rely on each other. We are a good group of lads both on the field and off, so must continue working to keep winning the way we did this week.”