Roberto Mancini has said that Italy’s success in the Nations League is an ‘excellent thing’, insisting that the national team are ‘evolving’ and will have ‘switched a few things up’ by the time the European Championships roll around next summer.
The national team CT addressed the media during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Azzurri’s clash with Spain in the Netherlands on Thursday night, where they will take part in the Nations League finals for the second edition in succession.
Last time out, Italy, also the host nation, finished in third place, losing 2-1 to tomorrow’s opponents Spain in the semi-final before defeating Belgium by the same score in the third place play-off.
“It’s the second time we’ve reached the final phase of the Nations League and I think it’s already an excellent thing,” Mancini said on Wednesday evening. “We have got here with a group of young guys and were in a very difficult group, so that’s a good thing.
“Games against Spain are always difficult match-ups because they are full of great players and qualities. They have a lot about them, they can change things around easily, while always maintaining the same system and the same quality of play.”
Mancini was asked by reporters about his future with the national team and how Italy may look heading into Euro 2024.
“We are already evolving,” Mancini replied. “We have played all the Nations qualifiers with lots of new players, young players, and we have others here as well. We are changing and we will get to the Euros having switched a few things up.”
Mancini was also quizzed about the Italian team’s misfortunes in the three recent European finals at club level, after Inter were defeated by Manchester City in the Champions League final, Roma by Sevilla in the Europa League and with Fiorentina having lost to West Ham in the Conference League.
He told the press: “We have been quite unlucky with all three teams. I don’t think any of them deserved to lose, but unfortunately football is cruel and strange at times. It’s a great regret. They’re doing well psychologically, they’ve recovered quite well. We’ll see how they are physically tomorrow morning.”
Finally, Mancini also spoke of his close friend and former assistant Gianluca Vialli, insisting that he is always with the team in spirit.
“I always think about Vialli, it’s as if he is always here with us. Of course we think about it, it’s quite normal.”
Italy will kick off against Spain at De Grolsch Veste in the city of Enschede in the Netherlands at 19.45 UK time on Thursday evening.