Following their Europa League group stage defeat to Spain, Italy manager Luciano Spalletti spoke to Sky Sports and Rai Sport to give an in-depth analysis and reflection on the match.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Spalletti admitted that it was clear from the start that the Spanish team was above them. He emphasized that the game becomes substantially more difficult when the physical ability is not matched by the opponent. He analyzed that Spain had the advantage in terms of speed, while the Italian team appeared to lack sharpness and decisiveness. Spalletti pointed out that the Italian team had problems with the use of physical fitness, and sometimes seemed to drag their feet too much. The Spanish team created a lot of problems for the Italian team through high-pressure pressing and precise stealing, which made it difficult for them to organize an effective attack. He admitted that the Italian team had shortcomings in terms of response and reaction, and did not show enough clarity and precision.
Talking about the upcoming match against Croatia, Spalletti said that the team needs time to recover and conduct in-depth analysis. He believes that from a tactical point of view, the Italian team could have done better. However, they often struggled to find a breakthrough in the face of faster, more responsive opponents with more varied playing styles. He lamented that the Italian team often lost their sense of position and clarity of mind on the field, which made it difficult for them to find the right route to attack.
In an interview with Rai Sport, Spalletti re-emphasized the superiority of the Spanish team. According to him, the Italian team had significant shortcomings in terms of reaction and coordination, and struggled to regain favorable positions. He praised the Spanish team for being better in terms of speed and clarity of play. Despite Italy's efforts to remain competitive through the infusion of fresh blood such as Rettigi and coming close to equalizing at one point, they ultimately lost due to a clear gap in strength.
