Mancini: 'Italy is the love of my life, I hope fans can forgive me'

Roberto Mancini has admitted that leaving the Italian national team was a significant error and a misunderstanding that he deeply regrets. He likened the situation to losing the love of his life and expressed his strong desire to make the team perform so exceptionally well that the fans can find it in their hearts to forgive him.

The recent weeks for the Italian national team have been marked by significant upheaval. Paolo Maldini was appointed as technical director, with Leonardo serving as his special advisor, and their primary task was to find a new coach. After both Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola declined the offer, the position was extended to Andrea Pirlo. However, this move was thwarted due to Pirlo's global brand ambassador role for a Russian betting company, which is prohibited in Italy. Consequently, Maldini and Leonardo chose to resign rather than consider candidates outside their initial list. This led FIGC President Giovanni Malagò to start the process anew, ultimately appointing Mancini as the new CT and Claudio Ranieri as the technical director. Both were officially presented to the media at a press conference.

The primary focus of the press conference was Mancini's departure from the Italy job in 2023 to take up the coaching position with the Saudi Arabia national team. Mancini addressed this directly, stating, "I wanted to save you the trouble, as I imagine you are all clamouring to ask the same question." He explained that the events of three years prior were due to a communication breakdown between President Gabriele Gravina and himself, suggesting that a face-to-face discussion would have led to a different outcome. He emphasized the immense importance of the national team, describing it as akin to "losing the love of your life," and acknowledged that this indicated he had made mistakes. Mancini apologized for the events of the past three years and expressed gratitude to fate and Malagò for the opportunity to try again, vowing to work towards restoring the Nazionale to its rightful place.

There was considerable frustration and irritation among many following the news that Italy would be stepping backward by reappointing Mancini, despite his success in leading them to the EURO 2020 victory. Mancini conveyed his ambition to assemble a team capable of replicating the success of 2021, highlighting the existing talent and youth within the squad, and stating that playing good, positive football is their objective. He acknowledged that as the national team coach, he is aware of potential opposition but is determined to make the team play so well that the fans will "fall back in love and maybe can forgive me for what happened."

Interestingly, Claudio Ranieri had been offered the Italy coaching role the previous year while he was finishing the season with Roma. Mancini expressed his gratitude that Ranieri had declined the opportunity at that time, allowing them both to be in their current positions. He confirmed that he had already clarified the situation with President Gravina and taken responsibility for his past actions.

When questioned about whether he had a clause to prevent him from leaving prematurely again, Mancini stated that he had been with Italy for five happy years previously and was in his preferred role. He confirmed signing a four-year contract this time, expressing his hope to win one or two trophies and to remain with the team even beyond that if possible.

Mancini's return comes after Italy's failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, including the 2022 tournament during his previous tenure. Reflecting on his initial appointment, Mancini recalled that at the start, a vast majority of journalists considered Italy to be the seventh or eighth-best team in Europe. He pointed to their impressive record of 30 wins and seven draws, and how Spain had only just managed to break their unbeaten streak, as evidence of their past achievements. He asserted that when Italy participates in the World Cup, they become a formidable opponent, even if not the favorites, and that their aim is to build a squad capable of qualifying for the Euros, then the Nations League, and subsequently, the World Cup.