Italian national team coach Roberto Mancini has insisted that he is preparing Gli Azzurri’s squad to appear competitive in the European Cup 2020, not just performing well in the UEFA Nations League.
Mancini became the Italian national team coach in May 2018 replacing interim coach Luigi Di Biagio. After dealing with Giorgio Chiellini and his friends, the former Italian national team striker failed to deliver satisfactory results.
After a 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia, Italian national team always failed to win in the next five games, including when being humiliated by France 1-3 in a match test and lost 1-0 to Portugal in Nations League. In the last test match against Ukraine, the country that owns the four world titles also only drew 1-1. The same score is the final result when meeting Netherlands in friendly matches and Poland in the Nations League.
Mancini revealed that competition in the Nations League competition was not the main target to be achieved.
“Portugal have something extra and they play a good game. Poland is also a great team with talented players. This is not a simple match but we can play well,” Mancini told calciomercato about the two Italian rivals in the Group 1 Nations League.
“When we started the step, we targeted rebuilding the team and making good imagery in the Nations League. There was no other purpose. It does take time and is not easy. When we make a group that can do great things, we will have no trouble appearing on European Cup, “he continued.
Mancini got a heavy burden to reorganize the Italian national team which suffered a major failure to penetrate the 2018 World Cup.
In the Nations League, Italy are temporarily in third place or the bottom guard under Portugal and Poland with one point from two matches. If it doesn’t move, then Italy can be relegated to League B.
Italy will face Poland in the away match in Chorzow on Sunday (14/10). Responding to the fight, Mancini tried to calm the Azzurri fan.
“If we lose tomorrow it does not mean we are not going to the European Cup and we will not play again. That could happen with Germany, England, Croatia. The Nations League was made so there will be no match test matches, but I don’t see any drama. “he said.
