“These have been very intense days. Being here at the press conference for my presentation as coach is an incredible emotion.
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It was 1970 when I asked my mother to sew me an Italian flag to celebrate the 4-3 against Germany. Now I will take that flag with me to the bench and I hope to revive the dream in all children”. Luciano Spalletti, today at the federal technical centre in Coverciano, Florence, spoke during his first press conference as technical commissioner of the National.
Yesterday the new coach has already released his first list of players called up, made up of the 29 players who will start preparing for the matches against the Giallorossi from Monday in Coverciano. Northern Macedonia andUkraine, valid for the qualifying round for the next European Championship. To present it Gabriele Gravina, FIGC president: “A new chapter in the history of the Azzurri begins.
The era of begins Luciano Spalletti.In a few days we had to remedy an unforeseen and unprecedented crisis in terms of methods.
We faced it with style, giving priority to the blue jersey and immediately putting the value of the passion of Italians first”.
Gravina presents Spalletti: “A prestigious coach in the national team”
“There’s no point in hiding a hint of disappointment” for the end of the relationship with Roberto Mancini, “but ours was a composed reaction that aimed above all at opening a new chapter”, added Gravina. “I am motivated because I have been able to clearly separate the technical evaluations from the personal ones. - He continued - The story of Spalletti from a technical point of view it is known”.
“But what struck me most was the human side on which we had the intuition to invest. Spalletti dedicates all his capacity for total sacrifice to everything he loves.
We made an important choice and we wanted to give the national a prestigious technician and we succeeded”
, concluded Gravina.
Spalletti: “Napoli my happiness. Clause? Working on a solution”
Spalletti returns to speak, also touching on the much-discussed topic clause Napoli: “Gravina saw in me the determination to take on this role and I was very happy. I hope that we reach the best possible solution between Napoli and FIGC, the lawyers are working on it”. And on the Neapolitan experience he added: “Naples was a beautiful, overwhelming experience.
Naples was my happiness."
Returning to the National Team: “The players must be happy to wear this shirt, we must shout this happiness because it is not just any shirt, it is a very important shirt. The national team shirt is always on.
There are champions who have shown what it means to wear this jersey, they will be our guiding spirits. Like Gianluca Vialli, who will always remain with us".
“Belonging becomes fundamental.
We have Gigi Buffon in the staff who is a clear example and can explain to the players what this shirt means.
– continues Spalletti -. I know the difficulties clubs have with call-ups, but the good of the national team is the good of Italian football, we must not be in conflict. In Serie A there are 570 registered players but there are 150 who can be called up for the national team.
For this reason we must also look elsewhere."
Article published on 2 September 2023 - 12:00
