Gravina on Spalletti: I wouldn’t have sacked him after Norway | OneFootball

The President of the Football Federation, Gabriele Gravina, spoke to the microphones of Corriere Dello Sport, where he revealed a sensational backstory regarding the dismissal of Luciano Spalletti, which occurred after the debacle in Norway.

Italy, Gravina on Spalletti: “I wouldn’t have let him go even after Norway”

These are the statements of the Federal President: “I wouldn’t have let Spalletti go even after Norway-Italy. They accuse me of not attending the conference where he announced the end of the relationship, but it’s not true, I was there. However, since it was the UEFA pre-match conference, I couldn’t intervene. The agreement was that at the end of that conference, Luciano and I would announce the resolution together. He anticipated me, he collapsed at the first question. He couldn’t hold back his explosion of anger. But it was a reaction from a true Italian. Who chose Gattuso? In Club Italia, the dialogue is constant. By March 2025, we had already contacted Rino to involve him: I would have entrusted him with the Under 21. We also wanted Baldini on board. So when the opportunity arose, we called them both. Mancini had proposed to return, it’s true, I talked to him. He had given his broad availability.”

“If I leave, will football restart and will we win the World Cup? If I were sure of that, I would be the first to step aside. That’s why I am a calm man. Do we still risk not going to the World Cup? March is not far away, and after winter, there’s always spring. I am optimistic, based on concrete, real foundations, on objective elements like the path that has brought us here, excluding the second half with Norway. Pessimism makes us waste energy, dispersing it doesn’t help the cause. The goal is within reach. Let’s roll up our sleeves, let’s all commit together. And I mean everyone. Every time the National team makes a misstep, there is immediate public indignation, and heads are demanded. I’m in, it’s the fans’ game. But we continue to look for culprits without realizing that the FIGC cannot impose certain things, but only raise awareness. For example, we have approved a rule that makes it advantageous to focus on young Italians.”

“Youth? Italy is also working on a serious project for young people – continues Gravina – Our planning has been ongoing since 2018, in the meantime, we have become European champions with the Under 17 and Under 19 and vice world champions Under 20. We are also launching a project for basic activities from 5 to 13 years old with two world champions, Perrotta and Zambrotta, along with a master like Prandelli. We want to erase the idea of a method focused only on tactics. Less tactics and more technique, that’s the goal. We must unleash creativity. Children get bored, they want to play, coaches tend to trap them in schemes from an early age. Those who aim for results cannot work in basic activities. It would be different to entrust the kids to training specialists.”

Vincenzo Schiavo

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.