Italy, Luciano Spalletti explains the exclusion of Ciro Immobile
Luciano Spalletti’s words in the press conference
During the press conference ahead of the very important challenges with North Macedonia and Ukraine, which are valid for the group stage of qualification for the 2024 European Championship, Italy's coach Luciano Spalletti, among the various topics discussed, dwelt on the decision not to call up Lazio bomber Ciro Immobile.
"I do not excommunicate anyone. As far as Immobile is concerned, we consider him a very important footballer whom we always follow with total attention like all footballers. We go to see the matches, the training sessions, although at Lazio I have not been yet. Right now here it seemed to me that the other three strikers I called up were in a better condition, although in the Champions League he did well, he scored a great goal and I congratulated him when I spoke to him. The criteria then is to go and win the games we go to play, summon the best ones taking into account different variables. I take into account different aspects when I make my choices" began the Azzurri coach as reported by "Sky Sport".
"My decisions have been influenced by the moment the players are going through with their respective clubs. Then many are reconfirmations. Jorginho, for example, è was summoned now because he had played little between September and October. He always showed the desire to be part of this group, I had spoken to him by phone and he conveyed to me all his willà to wear this jersey. Now he is playing with continuity, I feel he is better physically, è he is back to being the director who shows the way and è he has managed to become captain in a team of level like Arsenal. There are many positive aspects that led to the decision to call him up" continued the former Napoli coach.
"To us winning the first match would give us a big advantage ahead of the second one, so we have to prepare the match with Macedonia in the best possible way. He will have to make evaluations on the players who will take the field in the two close matches, but regardless he will not field one lineup for the first match and another for the second. It's clear that something will be changed, forò we have to think one match at a time" added the former Roma coach.
In conclusion, Luciano Spalletti shed light on the injury issue: "C'è Cambiaso who has a swollen ankle, Cristante has a muscle strain, Locatelli we sent him home as a precautionary measure and Jorginho has stitches in his head remedied in the last game. We will have to be very careful in the first two training sessions to understand the situation well".
