Italy head coach Roberto Mancini said "there's too much anxiety around at the moment" before Monday's home Nations League game against Türkiye. Mancini, who replaced Gennaro Gattuso in July after Italy failed to qualify for a third successive World Cup, lost the opening game of his second spell 2-1 to Belgium in Rome. Italy were booed off by home fans, but they won 4-1 in Türkiye and held France to a 1-1 draw in Paris on Friday.
Mancini told a news conference: "There's too much anxiety around at the moment, but we have to stay calm. We simply need time to work and to develop." Italy have won one, drawn one and lost one since Mancini returned, sitting third in their group behind leaders France and Belgium. "We mustn't get too excited by a victory, nor too depressed by a defeat," Mancini said.
Mancini will face former Sampdoria teammate Vincenzo Montella, who is under pressure from the Turkish media to step down. Türkiye have suffered three successive Nations League defeats and sit bottom of the group. But Mancini defended Montella: "He has done, and continues to do, an excellent job. Türkiye are an excellent side."
More changes to Italy's starting lineup can be expected, with Mancini stressing that handing chances to younger squad members over the four Nations League fixtures was crucial to long-term development.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing