Italy, Spalletti: We won’t back out of European final

National team coach Luciano Spalletti has expressed his ambitions for the European Championship 2024 in a recent interview on Rai 1 show ‘Five Minutes’.

When discussing the 2024 European Championship, Spalletti said, “Reaching the final of the next Euro? At this moment, the French, German and English are all posing the same question. We are the current champions, we know we will face some difficulties but we won’t back down.”

Regarding the best coach category in which he has been named a contender alongside the likes of Simone Inzaghi and Pep Guardiola, Spalletti playfully remarked, “Even with such a podium, I would be happy with third place.”

The Italian coach also showed a touch of nostalgia when talking about Napoli, a team he used to coach. He said that he misses the club greatly because of the strong relationship he had established with the team. He particularly recalled the warmth he felt when he was awarded honorary citizenship of the city, comparing it to the prestigious accolade awarded to the late Diego Maradona.

Talking about Francesco Totti, the legendary Roma forward, Spalletti revealed that while he always had to prioritise club interests and team results, he managed to maintain a good rapport with the captain. He is pleased that his relationship with Totti has now been publicly recognised.

Finally, it appears Spalletti is geared up and ready for the challenges that the European Championship 2024 will inevitably bring, with his passion for teams he has previously managed and players he has coached remaining strong.