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(ANSA) – ROME, JULY 1 – “Italy’s elimination from the European Championships was a shock, the biggest disaster in the history of the national team. There was great confusion, it seemed like the players were playing their first match in many months, they played with their heads down, they didn’t understand their position. I didn’t even understand the decision to play Fagioli. Perhaps Spalletti was a bit arrogance-filled”. This is what Falvio Briatore said while speaking on “La Politica nel pallone” on Radio Rai Gr Parlamento. According to the manager, who has always been a staunch Juventus fan and recently returned to the world of Formula 1 with Alpine, “Spalletti didn’t create a group, we had a gang of scared players, even players like Chiesa and Barella seemed to have no personality. Chiellini wasn’t Pelé, but he didn’t give up and encouraged his teammates – says Briatore -. Instead now it seemed like they were playing a training match. You can lose, but what’s not right is the way we lost: it seemed like when the referee blew the final whistle our players were happy, relieved. And if Donnarumma hadn’t been there in the mood for miracles, we would have conceded five goals from everyone”. But who could take Spalletti’s place? “For me Allegri would be the best coach – he replies -: he wouldn’t have the pressure every day and he has a huge amount of experience. I spoke to Max when the match with Switzerland wasn’t over yet: he told me that we have to play the way Italy historically plays, without trying to imitate the game of other national teams, we are not Spain”. And now, according to Briatore’s experience, what should be done? “Given the technical and organizational results, if I were Minister of Sport I would dismantle everything. After the European Championships with Mancini, only tragedies have happened”. “People are getting older, and when someone can’t take it anymore and is no longer motivated, they have to leave their place to someone more motivated – he continues -. I would put young people, outside of politics, and everyone should think about motivating the players to win. Mancini, once he understood the level we had, preferred to leave and not make these fools of himself. You can’t blame him”. (ANSA).
