Stand-in Italy coach Alberico Evani warns they had ‘everything to lose’ in the friendly with Estonia, but feels they ‘could’ve done even better’ than a 4-0 win.
The assistant manager was on the touchline because Roberto Mancini is self-isolating following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
Stand-in Italy coach Alberico Evani warns they had ‘everything to lose’ in the friendly with Estonia, but feels they ‘could’ve done even better’ than a 4-0 win.
The assistant manager was on the touchline because Roberto Mancini is self-isolating following a COVID-19 diagnosis.
He oversaw the 4-0 friendly victory against Estonia in Florence, with a Vincenzo Grifo brace, Federico Bernardeschi goal and Riccardo Orsolini penalty.
“It’s what we expected from our lads. We knew this was a game where we had everything to lose and couldn’t make mistakes,” Evani told RAI Sport.
“We saw some good things and the human quality within this group is extraordinary.”
Gianluca Vialli was in constant conversation with Mancini via phone on the touchline.
“Luca on the bench did what I usually do with Roberto, so there was this connection between them and it went well. To be honest, we could’ve done even better, as these lads could’ve pressed better and raised the tempo, but we can’t ask for too much.”
There were several debutants this evening, including Alessandro Bastoni, Luca Pellegrini, Pietro Pellegri and Matteo Pessina.
“It’s a good sign for Italian football and I am doubly satisfied considering I worked with many of these lads in the Under-20 Nazionale.”
The next tests will be more competitive, Nations League meetings with Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
If Mancini is given the all-clear with a negative COVID swab, then he’ll be back on the touchline for those games.