Roberto Mancini is now forced to make a difficult decision, should he resign following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup?
The Azzurri coach is currently torn between the decision whether to stay or go, as on one side he’d like to remain in charge until the end of his contract, seeing out the 2026 World Cup. On the other hand, he’s ready to throw in the towel following the embarrassing collapse in Palermo.
As highlighted by La Gazzetta dello Sport, there are pros and cons to both outcomes and a decision will not be made until after the friendly against Turkey next week.
Staying?
Should Mancini stay on, it would be a question of pride above all. The Italian coach would like to remain in charge in order to redeem himself following the failure to qualify for the tournament in Qatar, and he also doesn’t want to completely cancel out four years of hard work.
The coach is convinced of the value of his squad, who are still young and can grow significantly. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina wants to keep Mancini and the players still trust in their coach as well, so there’s no internal pressure to resign.
Going?
The other side of the coin is disappointment and a coach who has been heavily criticised from all angles following the defeat to North Macedonia. The next World Cup is a long four years away and Mancini would need to get through another European Championship first.
There is also a question of dignity regarding resigning, as many fans and pundits felt that Gian Piero Ventura’s failure to immediately give up the role back in 2017 exacerbated the situation.