Sacchi: ‘Spalletti has his faults’, Ranieri can rebuild Italy

Arrigo Sacchi during the Women Supercup match between AS Roma and ACF Fiorentina at Dino Manuzzi Stadium on May 24, 2024 in Cesena, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Arrigo Sacchi admits that Luciano Spalletti ‘has his faults’ but does not solely blame him for Italy’s poor form during his tenure, and backs Claudio Ranieri to rebuild the national team with logic, experience and empathy. 

Sacchi, CT between 1991 and 1996, shared his thoughts on the national team managerial situation in his La Gazzetta dello Sport column, one day on from the confirmation that Spalletti will step down from his position after Monday’s World Cup qualifier against Moldova. 

Spalletti confirmed during his pre-match press conference that the FIGC had taken the decision to relieve him of his duties, and that he would arrange the formalities of his departure after the Moldova match. 

Ranieri, who has recently stepped into a directorship and advisory role with Roma following his spell as interim head coach, has been linked with a move to replace Spalletti as CT. 

Sacchi: ‘Spalletti has his faults, but others must take responsibility’ 

Sacchi admits that Spalletti was not always able to get the best out of his players during his time in charge of the Italy national team, but feels that he is not solely to blame for Italy’s poor results over the last two years. 

He feels that Spalletti was not able to work with players on a daily basis in the same way that he was able to at club level, which Sacchi feels was a major downfall for the Napoli Scudetto winner. . 

“Spalletti has his faults, but others also have to take responsibility,” Sacchi’s La Gazzetta dello Sport column began. 

“It’s difficult for me to comment on the decision to send Spalletti packing,” he continued. “I think he’s an excellent coach, and I don’t change my mind just because he didn’t light things up in the Italy dugout. 

“The problem is that he has not been able to work as he has always been used to while in the national team, being on the pitch every day, in constant contact with the players. This hurt him in the long run. 

“And he was certainly not helped by the decisions of clubs who focus on foreign players and who do not value Italians. Where do you go if you haven’t got the players?” 

Sacchi: ‘Ranieri knows how to strike the right chord with the players’ 

Sacchi went on to give his opinion on the reports linking Ranieri with the Italy national team job. 

“Now the most popular name is Claudio Ranieri. A very good technician and a very good person. Given the situation we’re in, I think his experience and common sense can be the difference,” he explained. 

“Right now, we don’t need masterstrokes, there isn’t a need to go after strange projects. We need to field a team that has logic, that is concrete and effective. 

“It has to be based on the players the coach will have available. We all know it well in Italy that there is not an overflow of champions, but you don’t always win with champions. You can do it with other qualities rather than individual technique. 

“First of all, I would like to see a national team that fights for every ball, that does not suffer against the physicality of the opponent, that does not lose out in duels.

“Ranieri is a very empathetic coach, he knows how to strike the right chord with the players. There is a need to build a strong, cohesive group, where everyone sacrifices themselves for the common cause. 

“We’re not talking about a three-man or four-man defence, that is the least of the problems. If he comes in, Ranieri will have to choose the players and then get them in the best condition to perform at their best. It seemed to me that with Spalletti, not everyone performed according to their potential. 

“We risk not going to the World Cup, and that is not tolerable for a nation like Italy. I hope that there will be a swing and that things will improve. We definitely have a long way to go and we all have to commit ourselves to get to the finish line.”