Busy Chiellini thanks Italy fans in Palermo

• Giorgio Chiellini scores, puts through own goal, then gets winner against Azerbaijan
• Chiellini is relieved with Italy's 2-1 win and thanks the Palermo fans
• Berti Vogts points to Azerbaijan improvement against "a great team"
• Next games: Malta v Italy, Croatia v Azerbaijan (Monday)

Giorgio Chiellini, Italy defender
Luckily I scored one more in the right goal! It would have been very sad not to win this match. It wasn't easy, but we knew that. 

We should have killed off the game early; we had the chance to do so. This match should serve as motivation for the challenges ahead. The team showed great character, enthusiasm and a desire to do well, and that is what we have to show in the future as well. 

It was not important who scored the winning goal, but it would have been a pity not to win this match – that's for sure. [Sebastian] Giovinco? Seba has always been an important player. Whenever he is required to come onto the pitch, he is always ready. He showed again tonight that he helps to create chances. He just has an incredible touch with both feet, especially his right. We hope he can continue to be of great help to us.  

It would have been sad for the fans [not to win] because of all the enthusiasm and support they showed. We managed to perform well, but we were supported by them. And we have to take all of this with us and bring it into the upcoming matches, because this national team has the potential to do great things if this group stays together with the same joy and willingness – from our side, and also from our fans.

Ciro Immobile, Italy forward
It was a good game – whenever we play for Italy, we have to give everything and bring the points home. [Simone] Zaza and I are trying to give everything we have. It's not important if we did not score tonight because we play to help the team win games. I think we had chances to kill the game before their equaliser.

We feel we have to thank the supporters in Palermo because they pushed us to win even after that cold shower [of the equaliser]. The Italian national team is loved again by the fans and we can just be happy about this because it can only help us in the future.

Sebastian Giovinco, Italy forward
I'm happy with my performance but mostly for the victory. To be here with the national team is very important for me – it means I have been working well in the past year. It's a bit strange for us to see our former coach [at Juventus, Antonio Conte] here but I think he is the perfect man for this job. We know him well and we had no doubts about that.

Immobile-Zaza are doing extremely well in attack, they are running a lot and are very important for the team even when they are a long way from the opponents' goal. I was unfortunate when I hit the bar, maybe next time I will have more luck.

Antonio Conte, Italy coach
We went through the mill because we made it difficult for ourselves. We didn't put the issue from the [previous] match to bed and didn't do enough in front of goal. The goal we conceded was a bit strange, no? But there's also the positive aspect that in this difficult moment, conceding an unexpected goal, we found the strength, the character and the desire to push ourselves forward and win the match.

The team played well from the very first minute and tried to play the game. We came up against a very determined Azerbaijan who basically put all their players behind the ball. It's a game where if you break through quickly, then they slip away; otherwise you begin to lose a bit of impetus. However, we played well. One negative would be that we weren't very clinical in front of goal.

We have a great core of fans here in Palermo, they came to the stadium in an incredible way. They supported us until the final minute. This is a team that can do well and play well, but they always need to express enthusiasm and passion and the desire to get over every obstacle. Today I think we did this and I think the public appreciated it.

Berti Vogts, Azerbaijan coach
Unfortunately we lost against a great team, but we're happy for the goal. We are also pleased with how we played the game, but it is not easy to play well against Italy. In 2008, Azerbaijan would concede five or six goals against Italy. Today, however, for a few moments we were at their level. Tactically, though, we have much to learn. With Conte, Italy are stronger.