Luciano Spalletti believes Champions League qualification with Inter was ‘more important than winning a Coppa Italia’ and laughed off ‘washing your dirty linen in public.’
He was effectively fired just days after leading the Nerazzurri to Champions League qualification last summer, as a deal with Antonio Conte had already been agreed.
“I have many fond memories of my time at Inter, especially as we finished both seasons with teams breathing down our necks to get into the Champions League,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
Luciano Spalletti believes Champions League qualification with Inter was ‘more important than winning a Coppa Italia’ and laughed off ‘washing your dirty linen in public.’
He was effectively fired just days after leading the Nerazzurri to Champions League qualification last summer, as a deal with Antonio Conte had already been agreed.
“I have many fond memories of my time at Inter, especially as we finished both seasons with teams breathing down our necks to get into the Champions League,” Spalletti told Sky Sport Italia.
“The first season victory over Lazio was probably the moment that made me celebrate the most, then the second derby win in 2019 when everyone thought we were done for. Seeing the Inter fans rejoice in the Scala del Calcio was something special that will remain with me.
“We had to go into that Lazio game thinking we could do it and turn everything around, because you have to take that attitude in this job. We said the right things in the dressing room at half-time and I saw the reactions I wanted to see.”
Spalletti was asked if his work at Inter had been underestimated, especially considering the way he was pushed aside for Conte.
“I don’t know how my time at Inter was evaluated, but achieving the Champions League is objectively the most important target after winning the Scudetto. I think qualifying for the Champions League is superior to winning the Coppa Italia, because it’s not a trophy, but it allows you to enter the best competition in the world.
“We had some difficulties, but I never used a team for anyone’s personal objectives. I never bartered team objectives to save my image. Either you do things in a professional manner or you wash your dirty laundry in-house.
“Of course, sometimes you end up taking your dirty laundry to the laundromat and putting it on the most intensive spin cycle…”