“I see a lot of agitation going around, we must remain calm.” Roberto Mancini, in addition to being a coach and talent scout, must take on the role of a lion tamer in the first steps of his new Italian adventure. The roars are those of the fans who no longer have patience (“the whistles and intolerance are there, it’s up to us to change their feelings”), and even more distantly from those who are preparing to put the FIGC under commissionership. With a defeat already in the bag, a very difficult Nations League group that features Turkey tomorrow in the hot stadium in Bursa and then France in Paris, before a fourth match against the Turks in Bologna, tomorrow’s match already has the feel of a play-off to avoid the risk of fourth place and relegation, which would have not only technical implications. «But the criticisms don’t affect me – assures the coach, who brought 23 of the 33 players called up, leaving Barella, Mancini and Maldini among others in Coverciano – The young people need time to grow, the situation is different compared to my first mandate because there are different players, fewer setters. But even before the European Championship there was no trust in Italy…”.
To local reporters who ask where the national team with four World Cups under its belt has ended up, Mancini admits “that we no longer have the generation of the Baggios, the Del Pieros, the Tottis”, and that now we just need “time to build a competitive national team”. The other Turkish curiosity is about the City case, among whose financial violations there would also be a double contract for the then manager Mancini. “He wasn’t found guilty, and that’s not my problem,” the Azzurri coach cut short. Against a Türkiye coached by former Sampdoria strike partner Vincenzo Montella and without Yildiz and Calhanoglu, Mancini will also make changes.
«At this level we cannot think of playing four matches so close together: we won’t make tactical changes, but we will have the opportunity to see other players». He remains convinced of Kean’s choice as a winger (“he’s the only one who can do it”) but Friday’s effort could have an impact. «Moise has played little at the start of the season, we are only 48 hours away from the match at the Olimpico and I don’t know if he will be able to play tomorrow».. Bastoni returns, in his first Italian match after Zenica’s expulsion (“I can see it well”) and could team up with Scalvini in the center of defence. In midfield, with Frattesi on the ramp for the three-man line, there is Mandragora. «I don’t feel pressure, it’s a football match… – explains Mancini – We have to start again from the half hour of the second half against Belgium, a strong team that for a long time was at the top of the FIFA rankings and exited the World Cup, losing in the last minute against Spain. We could have drawn, then they won deservedly.” But as Tonali says, «let’s be honest, we are not in our best moment. This Italy doesn’t have the star who changes the game in 5′, but it’s alive, it’s not yet underground: we can’t have lost quality overnight, we just have to give time to the young people, let them play lightly: please leave them alone, if there’s any blame to be given, we, the older ones, will take it.” Time is the variable, given the lack of patience and the “political” threats: «We will need it – admits Mancini – and we haven’t had much of it, so far. Starting tomorrow we will need to increase pressing and aggression.” The criteria for choosing a better Italy, tomorrow. «What if Romano plays again? For me he played a great game in Rome, the mistake is there, even expert players make it. I don’t decide based on criticism, but rather on the fact that we are just two days away from playing a match. But he will have a great future in the national team.” Italy’s, however, is tomorrow in Bursa.