Where Spalletti ‘expects more’ from Berardi

Domenico Berardi scored two goals for Italy in the 4-0 victory against Malta, but Luciano Spalletti explains where he ‘expects more’ from the Sassuolo talent.

It was a packed house at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari for only the third match of Spalletti’s tenure as Azzurri CT.

“The fans showed how much they want football and to see Italy in this region, but also throughout the country with all those watching on television, trying to push us onwards,” the coach told Sky Sport Italia.

“We tried to keep the initiative, press them constantly and kept concentrated, because we allowed Malta practically nothing. We are satisfied, even though with that little space they left us in the final third, we really need to pass the ball with more quality. You cannot always try to go around the wings.”

Giacomo Bonaventura opened the scoring with his debut goal for the Nazionale, on his first appearance for three years, followed by a Domenico Berardi brace.

“Jack broke the deadlock with the strike of a champion, showing his quality to get out of tight spaces. Berardi, we all know that’s what he can do when he takes the shot, he can find the top corner. I expect more from him when combining with his teammates, but when he cuts inside from the right, he wreaks havoc.”

Italy are now in second place on 10 points from five games and a win at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday would put them joint top of the group with England.

It is a return to the arena where the Nazionale won the EURO 2020 tournament under predecessor Roberto Mancini.

“That is the game, the one that will tell us what the future holds. We need to see the attitude we have, the way we manage to play, it will be very different against champions and that is where we earn the passport to the big tournaments.”