After defeating Israel 4-1 at home in the 4th round of the UEFA Europa League group stage, Italian national team manager Luciano Spalletti attended a press conference and gave an in-depth review of the game and his team's overall performance.
Spalletti spoke highly of his team's first half performance, citing their positive attitude and their ability to create several chances on goal despite the limited space available, with Di Lorenzo's cross for Rategui being particularly impressive. However, he also pointed out areas of improvement for the team, namely to avoid giving the opponents a chance to take advantage of a dominant situation and to reduce the number of unnecessary goals conceded, as "the heaviness then becomes more difficult to deal with and it can overwhelm you".
On the impact of Samuele Ricci's introduction to the game, Spalletti said that Fagioli, although he played well, carried the ball too much in a crowded defense, which led to mistakes and affected his mentality. Ritchie, on the other hand, proved once again that he knows how to play in that position.
Di Lorenzo scored two goals in the game and Spalletti gave him full credit for his performance, believing that he is a very strong player and that he would have sent him on even if he had doubts before. He emphasized that Di Lorenzo does everything and is at the top level, a true professional.
In addition, Spalletti talked about the process of rejuvenating the squad. He said that he wanted to rejuvenate the team a little bit after the Europa League and these young players have shown that they know how to really take responsibility. The addition of young players such as Maldini and Baldanzi has opened up new possibilities for the team.
Speaking about Retegui, Spalletti believes that he is becoming more and more versatile, not only being deadly in the box, but also learning to work more with the team. He believes that Retegui will become a top player and is getting into pro form.
Spalletti expressed his satisfaction with the team's midfield setup. Fratelli and Tonali have proved that they belong to this level, while Barella needs some space to play to his strengths. He believes that Di Marco is one of the tactical pillars of this team, showing quality performances.
Finally, Spalletti spoke about the team's recruitment strategy. He said that all the players feel the trust and recalling them is considered. When such players realize this, they can make a difference. Regarding Barrera's role in the existing midfield, he believes that he can play as a number 10 and find space for himself.
