Spalletti’s revolution
It’s a kind of revolution, a leap towards the future, an engaging system, even complicated, because it forces players to stay turned on from the first minute to the last. «The objective is to become less predictable», says the coach who insists on tactics: in the morning in the Aula Magna, in the afternoon on the pitch. The results should begin to be seen tomorrow evening in Bologna, infriendly match against Montella’s Turkeythe first of two tests that the Italian coach will need to check the state of the art and get an even more precise idea about who should go to Germany and whoever, three in addition to Gatti who is training in Turin, will be left out.
Spalletti’s program revolves around six points to make Italy less legible but at the same time compact and organised. From continuous pressure, as Atalanta managed to do in Dublin, to take away the opponent’s confidence, right up to the end, which says “order, study and preparation”, that is, rearranging themselves to return to pressing. The pressing he is the comet star, he is needed in every phase of the game. Italy will aim for game control through the ball handling and the maintaining distance among the departments the coach focuses on in training because when the Azzurri manage to be “short” their opponents struggle more.
The rules of the game
High reaggression It’s another workhorse. The recomposition, which Spalletti in parentheses defines as “going home” means not being found unbalanced when the ball returns to the other team’s possession. Few rules, but basic ones. Spalletti is a hammer, hits and counters on the same points, raises his voice, repeats situations, both on the board and on the pitch: «There are similarities between him and Thiago Motta», says Calafiori who has not yet made his debut for the national team and hopes to do so in Bologna , in front of his fans. Tactical similarities and more: «Both are meticulous and don’t accept mistakes», he reveals.
Spalletti goes straight. After having secured qualification for the European Championship without upheavals, he intends to carry his ideas forward to the end. What we will see in Germany will be his Italy. For better or for worse. A challenge also with himself. The project is ambitious, time is short. A national team without a real reference system «that defends with four and attacks with three in which everyone will have to be invaders or defenders», explains the coach. A courageous team, which builds from the bottom, keeps control of the game, exploits the flanks and insertions.
The coach’s choices
This explains some choices, even sensational ones, such as the exclusion of Locatelli and the summoning of Fagioli. Those who can do a lot have an advantage, as do those who are physically fit. Here because Calafiori And Folorunsho, still with zero appearances, have a good chance of leaving for the German retreat. The work is a lot and ambitious. It’s a race against time: on the 15th in Dortmund, against Albania, we will have to be ready.
