Former Manchester City player and current BBC pundit Micah Richards insists Roberto Mancini is ‘one of the best managers in the world’ and deserves far more respect for his Italy achievements.
The Azzurri are unbeaten in 30 games, equalling the record going back to the 1930s, and will play Austria in the Euro 2020 Round of 16 tomorrow evening.
“You are watching one of the world’s best managers in his prime and it baffles me why, for instance, Tottenham and Everton have not targeted him,” wrote Richards in the Daily Mail.
“He is relentless, he challenges you mentally and a few people in our squad felt like they were being taken back to school by his methods.”
Mancio brought a more Italian approach to Manchester City, including a tight check on the diets of his players, as well as traditional Italian bemusement with the English hobby of getting drunk on beer.
He took over the Azzurri squad from Giampiero Ventura, who had failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and completely transformed the team, their tactics and reputation.
Richards calls this achievement “incredible” and he feels that Mancini does not get the respect he deserves as a world class manager.
“He is the reason Italy look like potential tournament winners once more.”