Roberto Donadoni has played down Roberto Mancini’s comments about a lack of opportunities for Italian youngsters. “It’s just him role-playing.”
Donadoni was Italy’s CT between 2008 and 2010, taking the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, and the former Milan winger had his say on the situation facing Mancini.
“Mancini saying there are only a few Italians getting game time is just him role-playing,” he told Tutti Convocati.
Roberto Donadoni has played down Roberto Mancini’s comments about a lack of opportunities for Italian youngsters. “It’s just him role-playing.”
Donadoni was Italy’s CT between 2008 and 2010, taking the Azzurri to the quarter-finals of Euro 2008, and the former Milan winger had his say on the situation facing Mancini.
“Mancini saying there are only a few Italians getting game time is just him role-playing,” he told Tutti Convocati.
“I’ve been a Coach and CT, and it’s normal that if someone is a CT they want more Italians to play, and if someone is a Coach they play who they deem most appropriate.
“As a club Coach, I have to play who performs best. Young players? If they make mistakes then they’re targeted. Many Italian players haven’t played in European competitions.
“That creates a gap for the national team in mental and psychological aspects because technically we don’t have to envy anyone.
The ex-Bologna boss was then asked about how Carlo Ancelotti would fare as Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli successor.
“De Laurentiis made a great choice with Ancelotti, but he finds himself in a situation where it's hard to do better [than Sarri],” he added.
“Carlo has everything to take Napoli forward, but it’s not easy.”