TMW exclusive
David Di Michele, Spalletti’s player at Udinese, has made six appearances for the national team
David Di Michele, what Italy have you seen?
“I didn’t like it at all. Having said that, Spain is made up of young and important players who have already been part of this group for a couple of years, guys who play continuously in their respective clubs. We have this generational change done too late and today we find ourselves with a national team with good players but who don’t have much experience. It’s a transition period, Spalletti can’t do more than what he’s doing.”
We wanted to oppose Spain with Spain’s best weapons, was the defeat almost a natural consequence?
“The match was built to bring home the equalizer, to try to hurt him with some counterattacks. But on the other side there are players who don’t lose when they dribble and can hurt you at any moment. Even the substitutions, with all the respect for Italy, they’re not ours. They’re on another level. It’s not a bad thing, but it’s really a question of experience. Calafiori is a rookie, Scamacca is a rookie… We’re the reigning champions true, but there are very few footballers left from that Italy.”
What kind of coach is Spalletti after defeats?
“In my day he rarely spoke straight away, really sensational things had to happen for him to speak in the changing rooms after the match. 18 years have passed, a lifetime, but I remember that I didn’t always digest the substitutions and sometimes I complained, someone else made him the faces… But he didn’t let himself be influenced by the moment, he always waited for the next day to be more clear and objective in his analysis”.
What reflections are you having at the moment?
“Knowing him, he is now working on what was lacking against Spain. He is always on the ball, he is studying and meditating. And he is talking to whoever he needs to talk to.”
Will there be a revolution against Croatia?
“No more than one or two changes. I knew that against Spain he would propose the same formation as five days before to send a message, to give continuity and not fail anyone. And I believe that on Monday too it will continue in the name of continuity”.
But Jorginho replaced him after 45 minutes
“Well, maybe he could change it to make room for one of Cristante or Fagioli. But I repeat, I don’t expect any revolution.”
Spalletti said that he only knows how to coach in this way, that he will never be a long ball and pedal coach. Has the Federation made the wrong technical commissioner?
“But no, today how many national teams play long ball and pedal? Even those that we consider poorest play from the bottom: I see it done to Albania, to Romania. Surely you meet Spain and get into difficulty, but if Italy had played holed up in defense he would have taken three. He knows how to play from the bottom and must give the team this mentality regardless of the opponent: you can’t change your attitude from game to game. There can be a long ball, but you have to have the personality to play it ball on the ground”.
You think like the CT
“We must have an important mentality, this is a path that will culminate in two years with the growth of players who will play many more international football matches in the next two years. I think of Calafiori and Scamacca who will play the Champions League and will certainly give an impact with those matches accelerated to their path”.
Who disappointed you the most against Spain?
“Maybe there were too many expectations on Scamacca: he can do much more, today he’s not the player who gets you out of trouble. He’s working a lot, but in the end the attacker has to score goals. But it’s right to give him time, he has great qualities and Spalletti – from Iaquinta to Osimhen – has always made the most of the attackers.”
Over the years he has also enhanced the directors, but Jorginho was not convincing the other night. Did he make the wrong choice?
“Jorginho is a player of great quality, after the European Championship he lost himself a bit but Locatelli also hasn’t done very well in the last year and a half and, for this reason, Spalletti went for a player with more international experience. He looked for guidance, he made a choice also thinking about the growth of the group.”
What must Chiesa do to become a leader?
“Today he is one of the most anticipated players, he has more responsibility. But if he wants to become unpredictable again, he must do what he did at Fiorentina and in the first months at Juventus: try the play without thinking too much. He must free himself from the pressure that risks crushing him and return to play with a free head.”