Spalletti: ‘I was a pain, but France-Italy is start of new era’

Luciano Spalletti admits he was ‘a pain’ and took the wrong approach with his players at EURO 2024, so hopes Italy can start afresh with a new era against France tomorrow.

The opening Nations League game in this group kicks off at Parc des Princes on Friday at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

Both sides are coming off disappointing EURO 2024 campaigns, but while Les Bleus made it to the semi-final while playing badly, the Azzurri scraped their way to the Round of 16 exit against Switzerland.

“If we look at the France squad, they are of the highest level, so I expect a game with a lot of difficulty,” said Spalletti in his press conference.

“We must be a team. I saw good things in training and want to have them replicated in the match. On a tactical level, they almost give you the impression that you are allowed to control the game, then as soon as they win the ball back, their strikers can cause problems for anyone in open space.”

Spalletti was drafted in as coach when Roberto Mancini suddenly resigned in August 2023, so was thrown in at the deep end to secure qualification and then had little time with his players to prepare for EURO 2024.

The coach fully admits that mistakes were made in what was after all his first international tournament too.

“You become different if you understand what happens and why it happened. We have done that, now what the players want becomes fundamental. I saw them stand up straight and not want to carry around regrets.

“We need to look to the future, as this is a new era and from now on we are doing something new. I saw lads who have the quality within them to become top players and probably need a bit more experience.

“Against Switzerland, we were inferior not just to them, but to our real selves.”

Spalletti and Italy have learned from EURO 2024

Gianluigi Donnarumma said that Spalletti seems ‘calmer’ now than he was at the European Championship.

“It’s possible that I am, we are usually the last to realise how we come off. Last time I was too much of a pain. I was very human in believing in the possibility of my results, but unhuman in the method of pursuing them.

“This was probably a mistake. What I think and already told the players is that they had no responsibility about that,” added Spalletti.

“Donnarumma is a perfect captain because he had every possible experience. He started as a child at Milan, he became fully-formed before most normal players. Now he is at international level, he frightens opponents when he stretches out his arms and almost covers the whole goal.”

Sandro Tonali has been out for 10 months due to a betting ban and made two brief appearances for Newcastle United, but is expected to start tomorrow.

So are Giacomo Raspadori and Torino midfielder Sando Ricci in a new-look 3-5-2 formation, shelving the tactical experiments seen in the tournament in Germany.

“This time we tried to focus on players who are consistent, constant, ready to sacrifice themselves,” explained Spalletti.

“Ricci had shown some good things, he has since improved. Tonali is fundamental, a player who really affects the team and it’s great to have him back.

“Raspadori for me is always the same, you can put him anywhere in any role and he’ll bring home a result. At times he is more visible than others, but this is because he works so hard for the team.

“He might not be big, but he’s surprisingly strong. If he hits you, you’re left with a bruise.”