Luciano Spalletti’s national team is backawaiting the two Nations League matches against Belgium (Thursday in Rome) and Israel (next Monday in Udine). The Italy coach spoke at a press conference from Coverciano talking about various topics, focusing among other things on the team’s progress: “Are we starting again to consolidate the September system? Yes. At the beginning there was something to change, now the watchword is to give continuity. Our champions have understood that making good use of these blue days is also good for their team’s future. I saw that after having done well in the September matches, the Italian players have done so good also with their team. The championship always offers alternatives, we certainly have some injuries here, but in my opinion they depend more on psychological pressure than on muscular causes. This morning I saw them very enthusiastic and this I’m pleased, we’re going to play with confidence.”
Given the many serious injuries, do you think we play too much? Is it worth playing that much?
“We need to diversify, there are teams that are not equipped and don’t have 25 players like others. However, there are teams that have 25 players available and are allowed to play quite frequently precisely because of the players they have. Then the discussion always goes there: some players are always treated like second-tier players and they suffer a bit from the idea of commenting on them like this. Teams like Inter, Juventus or Milan have players available to play more matches, then the quality level is sometimes at its lowest. below but here what makes the difference is the physicality of the teams, the way of interpreting the matches. Nowadays everyone knows how to do this man against man: sometimes you go hard to take on the tall opponent, sometimes yes concedes the field. What should never be done is to be long as a team. There are difficulties in playing against these teams, you really need a high quality of play to prevail and let those behind you play too. Make everyone grow. But when there is no result, they say that it is the fault of the choices, of the reservations, this growth is not promoted. If you continue to make these arguments it means remaining attached to alibis: you can play often and play high-level football, it is clear that the opponents must also be evaluated.”
Read coach Luciano Spalletti’s full press conference here