Spalletti Confident In Chiesa's Role In Evolving Italy Team

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Luciano Spalletti is optimistic about Federico Chiesa's potential role in Italy's revamped squad following their strong performance in the Nations League. The Azzurri lead Group A2, having secured a 3-1 win over France and a 2-1 victory against Israel. Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean scored for Italy, while Mohamed Abu Fani netted a late goal for Israel.

Italy's attacking prowess was evident against Hungary, with 12 shots and six on target. Despite Israel matching them in midfield, Spalletti praised his team's patience. "The team proved itself very mature, despite generally being of a young age," he said. "There was difficulty running into the traffic of the Israeli midfield."

Kean led Italy with three shots, creating 0.56 expected goals, more than any other player. Frattesi followed closely with two shots on target. Spalletti highlighted Frattesi's hard work and game-reading ability: "Frattesi works so hard and creates this superiority in different areas, but he also knows how to read the game."

Spalletti envisions Chiesa fitting into his tactical setup despite his absence due to a recent move to Liverpool. "I imagine he can play as a support striker, but with more freedom to go near the flanks," Spalletti stated. He emphasised the versatility of the 3-5-2 formation, allowing for different attacking configurations.

The Italian coach also reflected on his squad selection process: "I thought long and hard before choosing these players, as I wanted to bring down the average age of the group." He expressed satisfaction with the response from his young team and stressed the importance of reinforcing this initial idea while remaining open to new additions.

Spalletti acknowledged that Kean didn't receive enough service initially but noted improvements in the second half: "It's true that we didn't give Kean enough service, but we did better in the second half and won thanks to our maturity." He believes that maintaining balance and avoiding frustration were key factors in their success.

The Italian squad demonstrated maturity despite their youthfulness by managing risks effectively and maintaining composure under pressure. This approach helped them secure crucial victories and stay atop their group standings.

The team's ability to adapt tactically and maintain balance has been pivotal in their recent successes. With Spalletti at the helm, Italy looks poised to continue their impressive run in international competitions.