{"id":208290,"date":"2025-10-12T17:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T17:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/208290\/"},"modified":"2025-10-12T17:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-12T17:12:09","slug":"i-told-acerbi-he-was-right-but-i-needed-a-lighter-touch-as-italy-coach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/208290\/","title":{"rendered":"I told Acerbi he was right but I needed a ‘lighter touch’ as Italy coach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"REGGIO<\/p>\n

REGGIO NELL’EMILIA, ITALY – JUNE 09: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy looks on during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium – Citta’ del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell’Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/p>\n

Luciano Spalletti insists that Francesco Acerbi had accepted to play for Italy in June, before rejecting a call-up, but admits he needed a \u2018lighter touch\u2019 as the Italy coach.<\/p>\n

Spalletti opened up about Acerbi\u2019s refusal to play for the Italy national team in June, for games against Norway and Moldova.<\/p>\n

The experienced centre-back was called up for the opening 2026 World Cup qualifying fixtures, even if Spalletti had previously hinted that the Inter defender was too old to be part of the team.<\/p>\n

Spalletti reveals what he told Acerbi before Inter defender snubbed Italy call-up\"MUNICH,MUNICH, GERMANY \u2013 MAY 31: Francesco Acerbi of FC Internazionale looks dejected as he walks past the UEFA Champions League trophy after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain during the UEFA Champions League Final 2025 between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano at Munich Football Arena on May 31, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Carl Recine\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cMore and more people are finding excuses or reasons not to fulfil their commitments, and fewer are willing to put themselves on the line,\u201d Spalletti said during Gazzetta dello Sport<\/a>\u2018s Festival dello Sport on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Acerbi rejected the call-up after Inter\u2019s Champions League Final loss against PSG, just a few days before an away game in Norway, which the Azzurri lost 3-0, leading to Spalletti\u2019s dismissal.<\/p>\n

\u201cAcerbi had the chance to tell me those things earlier,<\/a> but he said them too late. Acerbi had accepted the preliminary call-up. The day before announcing the squad, I called him and told him he was right because the pitch had spoken clearly,\u201d Spalletti explained.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was still one of the best. He had scored the decisive goal in the semifinal against Barcelona, and I told him he was still one of the best, even if I had left him out earlier to give strength to the younger players. I wanted to call him up for a crucial match against Norway, as we had three injured defenders: Gatti, Gabbia and Buongiorno.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spalletti admits mistakes as Italy coach\"REGGIOREGGIO NELL\u2019EMILIA, ITALY \u2013 JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti head coach of Italy gestures during the FIFA 2026 Qualifier between Italy and Moldova at Mapei Stadium \u2013 Citta\u2019 del Tricolore on June 09, 2025 in Reggio nell\u2019Emilia, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Spalletti took charge of the following game against Moldova, but had already been sacked by the Italian Federation, who then replaced him with Gennaro Gattuso.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to convey my own way of being; perhaps I was wrong,\u201d Spalletti admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes players didn\u2019t respond well. Maybe there was a need for a lighter touch to keep the enormous pressure under control. I tried to make them understand that football is something serious. I\u2019ve always asked myself how the players would take my words.\u201d<\/p>\n


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