NewzRoberto Mancini returned as Italy head coach after Gennaro Gattuso resigned following their World Cup play-off defeat to Bosnia. (EPA Images pic)ROME: Newly-appointed Italy coach Roberto Mancini said Wednesday he was dreaming of bagging a major trophy, the Azzurri having missed out on the last three World Cups.Mancini was speaking at his first press conference since being unveiled as successor to Gennaro Gattuso, who resigned as Italy coach after their World Cup qualification play-off final defeat by Bosnia and Herzegovina in March.The 61-year-old Mancini was previously Italy boss from 2018 until 2023, leading them to the Euro 2020 title.He has been preferred to another ex-national team coach in Antonio Conte."I hope to win another trophy, maybe two," Mancini said."My goal is to make sure the team immediately gets back to winning ways."Mancini's first period at the helm of the Italy side ended suddenly when he took up the Saudi Arabia job.Leaving the Italy setup at the time, he said, was "a bit like losing the woman of your life".But the former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach, who has signed a four-year deal, vowed "to make sure the team is so good that the fans fall in love with it all over again".Mancini added: "I believe there are young, talented players in Italy. I simply believe we need to trust them and let them play."Mancini's first game in charge is a Nations League match against Belgium in Rome on Sept 25, before facing Turkey three days later.Then comes a trip to Paris when Italy take on France, with Zinedine Zidane at the helm."These will be important matches," he said.
"We'll immediately see our strengths and the areas in which we'll need to improve."Mancini was appointed on Tuesday, along with Claudio Ranieri as technical director in place of Paolo Maldini, who reportedly threatened to resign if Mancini was appointed.Mancini's appointment, however, remains divisive despite leading Italy to the Euro 2020 title and a 37-match unbeaten streak.His abrupt resignation as Italy coach in the summer of 2023 to take charge of Saudi Arabia reportedly damaged his standing with many senior officials at the Italian federation, particularly as the Azzurri were struggling in their qualifying campaign for Euro 2024.Mancini left his job with the Saudi national side just 14 months later.He was most recently coach of Qatari club Al-Sadd, with whom he signed … ROME (AP) — Roberto Mancini issued an apology in his first public comments Wednesday after being rehired to coach an Italy squad in crisis three years after he abandoned the same job for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia. “It was like losing the woman of your life.
And it means you did something that shouldn’t have been done. So I’m sorry, very sorry also for everything that happened over these last three years. … I’m going to try to bring the national team back where it belongs.” Italy failed for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of federation president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso in April, shortly after a playoff defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The 61-year-old Mancini led the Azzurri to the European Championship title in 2021 but shockingly resigned as Italy coach in August 2023, taking over Saudi Arabia’s national team two weeks later. “It was completely my fault,” Mancini said, referring to a lack of communication with Gravina. Mancini’s first match back in charge will be against Belgium in the Nations League on Sept.
He was asked about what type of reception fans might give him. “I realize some people will be against me,” Mancini said. “I’m hoping the squad plays well enough that maybe people will forgive me.” Mancini was a fourth-choice option after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned the job down and Andrea Pirlo was dropped as a candidate amid political concerns over a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting firm.
Italy’s players Italy will also face France and Turkey in its Nations League group. Mancini can rely on players like Pio Esposito, Moise Kean and Nicolò Zaniolo in attack; Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella in midfield; Riccardo Calafiori and Marco Palestra at fullback; and Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal. Center back has been an issue due to problems with Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi.
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