German defender Antonio Rudiger spoke about the importance of coach Luciano Spalletti in his football career, ahead of the anticipated clash between Germany and Italy in the UEFA Nations League, which will take place at the San Siro stadium.

This match is particularly special for Rudiger as he returns to Italy to face the coach under whom he played at Roma, before Spalletti became the head coach of the Italian national team.

Rudiger said of Spalletti: "I am very happy to see him again; he was an influential coach in my career when I was a young player. He helped me a lot in developing my level, as he gave me confidence and worked with me to improve many aspects of my game. I learned a lot from him, and I have great respect for him."

Regarding the match against Italy, Rudiger stated: "It will definitely be great to meet him again. This is a competitive match, and I will strive with all my might to win with my national team. Italy has a great team and coach, so it will be a very tough match."

It is worth noting that Rudiger played 72 matches for Roma, 54 of which were under Spalletti's management, reflecting the strong bond they shared during that period. Nevertheless, the German defender enters the match with only one goal in mind: to lead his national team to the final of the UEFA Nations League.