Nagelsmann: ‘I don’t want to give Spalletti an advantage’ ahead of Germany-Italy – %sitename – March 22 latest

Julian Nagelsmann was unwilling to reveal too much about his Germany tactics or personnel changes ahead of the second leg of the Nations League quarter-final against Italy on Sunday, as he feels that would only serve as a benefit for Luciano Spalletti and the Azzurri: ‘I don’t want to give him this advantage’. 

Italy trail 2-1 at the halfway stage of their Nations League quarter-final against Germany, but have an opportunity to turn things around at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on Sunday. 

Reports suggest that Nagelsmann will make ‘up to’ four changes to his team for the return leg against Italy, but was unwilling to give away any specifics during his pre-match press conference on Saturday. 

“Why do I have to say that? It doesn’t make any sense. All I can say is that everybody is available,” Nagelsmann told the press when asked about his potential personnel changes. 

Nagelsmann: ‘I don’t want to give Spalletti this advantage’

He doubled down on that stance when asked if Leon Goretzka would line up as a starter after his winning goal in the first leg. 

“You ask a lot of questions, but I don’t want to say anything specifically. It would be easy for Spalletti and I don’t want to give him this advantage. Goretzka will play, he scored a goal and had a good performance in both phases of the game.” 

Revealing that Goretzka will play did not come as too much of a surprise, given that he was sat next to the coach for the pre-match press conference. It is typical that a starter joins the coach for pre-match media duties.