Spalletti on why Donnarumma is being blamed and what Verratti told him

Luciano Spalletti says Gigio Donnarumma will start against Ukraine and highlights the tendency to ‘attack who has talent’ and insists Marco Verratti didn’t turn down a call-up: ‘He wanted to help.’

The Azzurri coach spoke at a press conference attended by Football Italia on Monday on the eve of a Euro 2024 qualifying fixture against Ukraine.

With Donnarumma under pressure following Saturday’s draw against North Macedonia, Spalletti was asked if the PSG keeper would start at San Siro tomorrow.

“He will start, he has not been forgiven because he is a prodigy who rushed the process. It’s normal to make errors, but talents must respect the quality they have otherwise it becomes arrogance.”

L’Equipe reported on Monday that Marco Verratti had turned down Italy’s call-up, but Spalletti denied the report.

“I could not call everyone, but I did call somebody,” said Spalletti.

“I did call him [Verratti], but I don’t have the perception he said so. On the contrary, he said he was glad I had called him, Bonucci said the same thing. Despite all the difficulties, they’d like to help the national team. This is what they said.

“I tried to talk to some coaches too,” continued Spalletti.

“I managed to speak to some, while others didn’t pick up the phone, maybe they don’t have my number. I want to involve everyone even if, there is a project to carry forward and the priority is to qualify.”

Spalletti added that Italy “will always have pressure” and this is even more true after Saturday’s draw with North Macedonia.

“With this result, there is even more pressure and it will always be like this as we said before.

“We must be professional and manage all things well but then we need that level of personality and character, we must be worthy of our history.”

Donnarumma was booed the last time he played with Italy at San Siro. The PSG keeper was not specifically mentioned in this question, but Spalletti was asked if he feared a toxic environment at San Siro.

“We must be able to react on every pitch,” the coach argued.

“Sometimes we react in strong ways. With behaviour, words or even silence. We must react to what will be thrown at us. Sometimes personality is when you have a lot to say, but you remain quiet to earn something later on.

“I have nothing to demand from fans at San Siro. We must deserve their behaviour. I watched some Italy games at San Siro and they’ve always supported the team which completes our desire. We have to earn it, but fans have always made their part and I thank them in advance.”

What does Spalletti make of Ukraine? Does he feel they are even more organised than North Macedonia?

“Yes, I do. They have a clear identity when they have the ball and when they don’t have it.

“They say we must play vertically, but how? With our feet inside their box? We must create the space and attack them. Everyone knows how to defend deep, but if we work on the wings, if we make them move, then we can find space.

“They’ll want to play on counter-attacks, the goal they scored against England highlights what they thought in that game. For the opening 24 minutes, they just defended and England kept the ball, sometimes even with 40 or 50 touches but then, they recovered the ball.

“The point is, you can’t attack the space when there is no space. They say ball possession doesn’t count, but there is nothing else you can do when there is no space. You need to create space and play inside it.

“Often, players mirror others’ opinions about them. Players are the image of what people think about them if they don’t have a strong personality. If ten people tell somebody, ‘you are a strange guy’, then he behaves like that. I think I have a strong team but we must have values and be united.

“I will make right and wrong decisions, but I will always do it for the national team’s good.”