Attentive, orderly, lucid, reactive, shouting Luciano Spalletti on the main field of Coverciano. The first day of National on the way to the Germany and a precious European to defend, it’s a full immersion. Notions tactics And motivational work without a moment’s pause. The coach welcomes the Azzurri at lunchtime with a speech that calls for values and harmony that must be there with the fans at home. «We must be clear about one thing: the pride of wearing a shirt in which an entire country can be recognized. Show that we are all fighting for the same cause, respect the emotions of those who love us and breathe their breath. We promise Italians that we will be worthy about how lucky we were to be here.”
«On the pitch you have to tell yourself what you want to do»
The European Championships are still far away (here is Italy’s calendar and the complete groups), but the coach immediately pushes on the accelerator because there is no time to lose. We don’t have the strongest team, but there is the intention to create the best one. «Don’t slow down after twenty minutes and talk to each other on the pitch because you have to tell yourself what you want to do”, he shouts during rehearsals with his tracksuit jacket closed and only he knows how he doesn’t die of the heat.
Spalletti doesn’t want to have to deal with a spoiled group and demands this knowing the importance of the mission that awaits him. «We can also lose, defeat must not be a prison. But you have to know that we did our best. People must be proud of us and must applaud us when we return.” The introductory speech closes it Gigi Buffon, the head of the delegation: «One of the number ten in our history, even if he played in goal”, says the coach. Gigi, listened in rigorous silence, told the story an episode linked to the 2012 European Championship.
«Having to cut someone is a choice that kills me»
In the fifty-two minutes of the first press conference, Spalletti also explains the criteria that inspired his choices, some of them strong, such as the call-up of Fagioli after seven months of disqualification and just two appearances for Juventus and how his first real national team was born: «Fagioli it is a technical choice, it has no body, but flair and creativity. A delightful player with the ball. And then, also from a personal point of view, he responded well to the difficulties, saying nice things in the interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. I spoke to him in Rome on the day of the Italian Cup final and he made a good impression on me. Nicolò gambled because he couldn’t free himself from temptation.” He will face Ricci, the Mole derby transported to Coverciano, even if in the end both of them could enter among the twenty-six elected for the European Championship: «Fagioli is more of a director. Ricci has grown up, he goes after the man, seeks the tackle, competes for the ball against the opponent. We will see. I will take everything into account. For sure, the way I am made, cutting someone is a choice that kills me”. An inevitable choice, however. Even if the time hasn’t come yet.
