Italy’s national team coach Luciano Spalletti has spoken out ahead of the Nations League match against Israel on Nonday evening in Udine. In an interview with TG1, Spalletti shared his thoughts on the current situation and addressed recent controversies.
Regarding the match against Israel, Spalletti expressed hope for peace, stating, “We’re going to play the match with the hope of convincing more and more people, because I think there are many Israelis who don’t want war, and we must convince more people that this is something that must end.”
The match coincides with a pro-Palestine solidarity march in Udine, leading to increased security measures. Attendance at the game is expected to be around 12,000 people, partly due to the planned demonstration.
Spalletti also addressed the recent controversy surrounding his comments about ultras and Inter Milan coach Simone Inzaghi. He clarified, “I don’t need to explain anything to anyone. I just answered a question about how I behave in certain situations.”
The controversy arose from Inzaghi’s intercepted conversation with Marco Ferdico, a Curva Nord leader, regarding ticket allocations for the 2023 Champions League final. Spalletti had previously commented on the situation, saying, “I can only speak about what I experienced in Milan, and I never found myself dealing with these situations. In fact, it has never happened to me in my entire career that someone called me for such things. That’s why I found it very new and surprising.”
He added, “I don’t know what the previous relationships were, but if you don’t know someone, I think it’s difficult to exchange words. I answer everyone, even those I don’t know, but then I know how to hang up and continue the conversation with those who call me.”
