Italy coach Antonio Conte hit back at his critics after a 1-0 friendly victory over Albania in Genoa on Tuesday.
The win came just days after a 1-1 draw against Croatia drew heavily criticism for the relatively new Italy boss, who took over for Cesare Prandelli after the World Cup.
Recent scorelines may not have been flattering, but Conte insisted only the results matter.
"We've won five and drawn one," Conte said. "We won five of our six games and drew one. Some might sneer, but my lads want to play and to get into the squad. We just have to keep working.
"I very much liked the effort of the lads, as in a day and a half we prepared against an Albania side that played its first-choice team.
"We proved that if we want to, we can achieve anything. Nobody is going to help us, so we have to get it done ourselves."
Conte, no stranger to the pressures of Serie A after winning three titles with Juventus, also criticised some Italian clubs, who he feels are hindering the Azzurri.
"We will try to work, to have a few meetings to understand the situation in general. I need to work with these lads, as being without them for four months is a problem," Conte said.
"If the national team comes at the bottom of the pile, then at least let's state that and everyone can take responsibility for that situation."
Goal scorer Stefano Okaka, meanwhile expressed gratitude for his club coach, Sampdoria's Sinisa Mihajlovic, for making his Italy debut possible.
"Mihajlovic was fundamental for me, as from the first day he treated me like a son. He changed me and relaunched me in the top football world, for which I will forever be grateful.
"At 16, I made my Serie A debut, so by the time I was 20 people said I was already old. Thanks to Mihajlovic I am now here celebrating a goal for Italy.
"If I wasn't hungry, then I might've stopped playing four or five years ago, because going from Roma to Serie B was a big drop and could really dent a young player's confidence."
Okaka's scoring header took a large deflection off an Albanian player, but the striker is not willing to share the credit: "The ball would've gone in anyway, certainly!"