The head coach of the Italian national football team, Luciano Spalletti , explained why he congratulated Russian Zenit on winning the championship after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The specialist was reminded of this episode during a press conference on the eve of the Ukraine-Italy match in the qualification for Euro 2024.
Spalletti on congratulations to Zenit
According to him, “it is incorrect to link sporting events to conflicts.”
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— Firstly, I coached many players on that team and worked with many coaches. In addition, there were five employees with whom I also worked at Zenit. At the time, Miller was the head of this team. I received congratulations on winning the Italian Championship. I think I had the right to do the same, congratulating them on their victory,” Spalletti said.
In his opinion, it is a little “incorrect to link sporting events and sports activities to conflicts,” with which, as the specialist said, he categorically disagrees.
— I am against any conflict and war in general. We Italians, in particular the Italian national team, are very close to the people who suffer. I and we all think about people who want to live in peace, about children who do not exist. “We really hope that this conflict will end as soon as possible,” he added.
What came before?
In May 2023, Luciano Spalletti, who then headed Napoli, congratulated Russian Zenit on winning the Russian Championship and got into a scandal.
— If Napoli wins the championship, if Zenit becomes the champion, this means that both we and Zenit are doubly champions! We love the same things: the sea, the sky, we have the same colors. Both we and Zenit like to win trophies. Congratulations to the boss, Alexey Miller! Congratulations to my friend, Sergei Semak! Congratulations to the players and the entire Zenit team! I love you! “Come on, Zenit!” said Spalletti.
He worked at Zenit for five years and won the Russian Championship twice with the team, once the Cup and the Super Cup. Luciano won his only Italian title with Napoli, with whom he worked from 2021-2023.
The match between Ukraine and Italy in qualifying for Euro 2024 will take place on Monday, November 20, at the BayArena stadium in Leverkusen, Germany. ICTV Facts told where you can watch the Ukraine-Italy match.
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