Every word Spalletti said about Italy, EURO 2024 and the differences between club and international football

Luciano Spalletti has addressed the media following Italy’s elimination from EURO 2024. FIGC President Gabriele Gravina has confirmed that the CT will continue to perform its functions for the time being.

During his press conference in Iserlohn on Sunday, Spalletti thanked everyone for their “love and support” during the Italian tournament. He also acknowledged that fans have not yet seen the best version of Spalletti, but stressed that there are differences in the impact a coach can have at club and international level.

Spalletti also addressed a number of other topics, including the search for leaders for the national team, replacing players such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, and plans to invest in youth in the future.

Spalletti thanks Italian fans, staff and players

“I thank the fans for their love and support, the players for their availability and professionalism in implementing all my requests and the federal staff for their quality and willingness to find a solution to each of our problems. I am sorry I have not been able to reproduce their level of quality,” Spalletti said at the start of his press conference, reported by Corriere dello Sport.

When asked if he felt any regrets after Italy’s EURO elimination, Spalletti replied: “It’s a game I don’t like playing. There’s no turning back. I didn’t do it right, I tried to motivate the team and I will try to do even better in the future.”

When asked if we had already seen the best version of Spalletti on the Italian bench, the coach replied: “No, you have not seen him in the last ten months, otherwise I would be giving a completely different speech here.

“I’ve been told that I increase the intensity in training too much, that I tell fairy tales to motivate the players, but that’s my life. You always need role models, otherwise there’s no path to follow.”

“I came when results were urgently needed and, given the demands, things were looking good up to a point. We were not able to grow on this mini-journey we took yesterday, we took a significant step back and that cannot be accepted. But we will start again from there. I think I know what to do and I will put it into practice.

“Yesterday’s game brought us back to zero and from there we will start again. I will rejuvenate this squad and try to form a group. I did not get the answers I was looking for in terms of leadership. The future will be younger, with new energy and strength.”

“It is difficult to find players like Chiellini and Bonucci, but we have already had some glimpses by giving players like Calafiori a chance. You can find quality. We have to believe that there is potential in our own ranks,” said Spalletti.

The CT was also asked if Saturday night was the most difficult night of his career so far.

He replied: “No, my life is always complicated. Sometimes even the victories are hard to take. Many nights I spend thinking about football and my love and passion for the game. I have made many friends along the way, the most important was the call from Matilde (Spalletti’s daughter) who told me ‘I love you’, that means more to me than anything else.

Spalletti continued: “We went into the European Championship with a well-deserved but difficult qualification. We knew we would have the greatest difficulties, history teaches us that the teams we have faced are well organised, experienced and mature. We are among the youngest, in fact there was only one team younger than ours.”

“I said I was surprised by the players’ willingness and I held that opinion until yesterday’s game. I’m disappointed about that because I didn’t see any reaction. Even against Spain, in the last quarter of an hour, we created situations where we could have equalised. Yesterday I saw less of that desire to win the ball back, to challenge an opponent who was within our reach. I do my analysis by looking at what I saw in the game. We didn’t do enough. If that’s the answer, I have to try something else.”

Spalletti added about the spirit in the camp: “The mood in the team was perfect and good. Within the group we always said the same thing, a healthy group is emerging.”

“They were all very close and very good friends. They spent the whole evening together in the room, playing games and joking. The idea that the Azzurri shirt can be a burden in light of yesterday’s game is something we will try to better understand and get answers to.

“The difference between a coach and a national team coach is the options. One day I could say something to a player to get a reaction, then I could compliment him and then let him play. You can’t do that here, you don’t have the same opportunity to ‘play’ with the players psychologically. I also have to wear a suit these days and it fits me very well,” he joked.

“There are differences and I can’t wait to continue a journey that always presents me with new challenges.