Italy coach Roberto Mancini said betrayed fans have every right to be upset. Surprisingly, Italy, the four-time World Cup winners, have failed to qualify for the quadrennial event in the last three editions.
Earlier, Mancini had abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia. Mancini led Italy to glory in the 2021 Euro and but surprisingly resigned from his role in August 2023. Thus, Mancini will look to win over the fans once again.
Italy will take on Belgium in the Nations League on Sept. 25 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, and this will be Mancini’s first match in charge.
“I’m not in credit [because of the trophy] because that’s in the past, it doesn’t count for anything,” Mancini said on Monday.
“I think that when a fan feels betrayed, he has the right to be upset, and you have to accept it. I think to win them back, we must do things well and bring the national team back to where it belongs so things will settle.”
Mancini has called up 34 players for the tournament, with experienced players like Federico Dimarco and Bryan Cristante being replaced by Matteo Ruggeri and Samuele Ricci.
“I think it’s right to have young players so we can get to know them directly, because that’s the most important thing to have a very strong squad in the future,” Mancini said. “So we have to be quick to understand who could be the players that could be with us for the next four years.
“I want a team that dominates, that plays well, a team that manages to always give the maximum. You can’t always win, obviously, but we will try to start with doing this, that’s how you win. We are all very positive.”
Mancini said the young players will carry no baggage of not doing well at the World Cup qualifiers, as they weren’t there.
“There are many young players who weren’t there, who are here for the first time,” Mancini said. “They are very happy to be here and want to give their all for the national team.
“I know we’ll bring something home over the next four years. I’m sure of that because I know something about soccer players, so I see they have talent and they just need to be given the opportunity to play.”
Mancini will look to get the best out of his players and put Italy back on the football map.
