Spalletti: ‘I asked the players to let me leave Italy with a victory’

epa11659417 Luciano Spalletti, Head Coach of Italy, reacts during the UEFA Nations League A soccer match Italy vs Israel in Udine, Italy, 14 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI

Luciano Spalletti explains why he ‘did not resign’ and was so open about his dismissal as coach of Italy ahead of the Moldova match. ‘I asked the players to let me leave with a victory.’

It kicks off at the Mapei Stadium in Reggio Emilia at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT, 20.45 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

This is a truly odd situation for the Azzurri to be in, as Spalletti already announced during yesterday’s press conference that it would be his final game, having been sacked after the 3-0 defeat to Norway on Friday.

He stepped up to give the usual pre-match interview anyway, refusing to hide away from his fate.

Spalletti stands up for his Italy primato

“Today’s training session was wonderful, because I had to do it perfectly, and there is this disappointment of leaving which cuts deep and so what I said came from the heart,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.

“What I asked from the players was to let me leave with a victory. It can be extra motivation if they want to give me this gift.”

How was the feeling in his final pre-match speech to the players in the locker room?

“I think it is a normal atmosphere, one of a group of people who get along together and do things with just a little bit more sadness, but tell each other the truth. You had an intense relationship, so there has to be clarity to confirm what happened. I don’t see why that should lead to a strange atmosphere,” assured the coach.

“We could’ve just gone into this going over the same questions over and over again, but this is better, being clear and open. This is better.”

Many coaches would’ve kept the dismissal to themselves until after the match, but Spalletti insisted on absolute clarity when speaking to the media yesterday.

“First of all, there is the rule that I have to speak at the press conference. Secondly, what difference does it make if I say it or someone else? We are all part of the same family, but it just surprised people because they weren’t expecting it.

“The fans were happy, because they appreciated what happened, they probably also appreciated that I am no longer the coach of Italy, because I didn’t get good results, but the work continues tonight.”

Spalletti’s final Azzurri team

There are five changes to the starting XI that was crushed in Oslo, bringing in Fiorentina defender Luca Ranieri for his senior debut, with Andrea Cambiaso, Davide Frattesi, Federico Dimarco and Samuele Ricci in a revamped midfield.

Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni had been expected to rest, but he starts again, instead sending Verona’s Diego Coppola to the bench.

Finally, the CT insisted that he believes this squad can reach the 2026 World Cup, with or without him on the bench.

“I tried my best, but there’s no getting away from the results,” added Spalletti.

“I was also not lucky in certain incidents, for example when we were leading 2-0 in Rome and then the red card saw us go down to 10 men. Another match we conceded at the 90^th minute, then here lots of injuries all in the same role, it all adds up.

“If I did not resign, it was because I believed this group could reach the World Cup with me. If I am out, my judgment on the players remains the same.”