Spalletti explains why he announced his own Italy departure before Moldova qualifier

FLORENCE, ITALY – OCTOBER 07: Head coach Italy Luciano Spalletti speaks with the media during Italy press conference at Centro Tecnico Federale di Coverciano on October 07, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Luciano Spalletti has explained that he didn’t want to carry on with ‘two more days of lies’, which is why he decided to announce his departure as head coach of the Italy national team before the World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Monday night. 

Spalletti has confirmed that he will be leaving his position as CT after the Moldova match on Monday night. 

In a press conference on Sunday, the CT revealed that the FIGC had informed him that he was going to be dismissed, but that he will remain in charge of the team for the Moldova match and then sort out the logistics of his departure. 

Spalletti: ‘Should I have continued for two days and say nothing?’ 

Questions have been asked as to why Spalletti has remained in charge for the Moldova match if the Federcalcio had already taken the decision to let him go. 

Spalletti has since explained his stance on the matter, and asked ‘should I have continued being a coach for two more days and say nothing?’ in response to questions over his decision to announce his own departure to the press on Sunday. 

“I went to the press conference because there are rules. If someone from the federation wanted to come with me, they could have done so,” Spalletti said in an interview with Rai, (via Corriere dello Sport)

“What sense would there have been in me telling two more days of lies?”, he continued. 

“Should I have continued being a coach for two more days, and say nothing? Would that have been respectful towards Italians? I don’t know. 

“I believe in this team, I based my approach on my way of being. They appreciated me in Russia, at Empoli, at Roma, at Udinese. At Sampdoria they sent me away and then called me back, like at Udinese.

“I made mistakes, the results are what they are. If it’s been a disaster, then it’s a sign that I’ve made mistakes.” 

Spalletti went on to explain how the discussion between himself and FIGC President Gabriele Gravina went over the fine settimana, and revealed that he had to force the Federcalcio chief to break the news.

“I saw Gravina, for whom I have great respect, looking doubtful. I forced him to tell me. We will remain friends, but after telling me, what should I have done?

“Should I have hidden it because they had to give me bad news? It doesn’t work like that. Today, I will be more perfect than ever in our meeting before the game. The players, I’m sure, will want to give me the possibilità to come out with a win. I never said anything in particular that would have offended them. Nothing.”

Spalletti will step down from his position as CT after the Moldova match, which kicks off at 19.45 on Monday night. 

Monday’s reports claim that Roma advisor Claudio Ranieri is currently the leading candidate to replace him.