Mancini: ‘Italy lack of fluidity was predictable’ after 9 changes against Turkiye

BOLOGNA - OCTOBER 05: Roberto Mancini, Manager of Italy, looks on before the UEFA Nations League 2026/27 group phase match between Italy and Türkiye at Renato Dall'Ara Stadium on October 05, 2026 in Bologna. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini ‘expected Italy to lose some fluidity’ after nine changes in the 3-1 victory over Turkiye, but has high hopes for Alessandro Romano.

The coach said that the biggest mistake would be underestimating Turkiye, and that proved a fair warning, because Vincenzo Montella’s side had the better of the first half.

After a couple of Gianluigi Donnarumma saves and a lot of Turkish possession, Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring after a lucky ricochet and volleyed in from eight yards.

Indeed, it was no surprise when Aral Simsir scored a deserved equaliser, but Riccardo Calafiori’s first goal for his country and Pio Esposito’s final tap-in secured a 3-1 victory.

Mancini expected Italy struggles

“Despite the changes, naturally there was also fatigue. We suffered at the start, but the lads did well to get it back on track, score again after the 1-1, so it was a good game as the fourth in such a short spell of time,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

There were nine changes to the starting XI that played in Paris, so that inevitably affected the performance in Bologna.

“The only certainty was that we would lose some of that fluidity, it was fully expected and predicted. We also had two players on yellow cards and the referee seemed inclined to book them again, so I took them off.”

Cagliari midfielder Alessandro Romano returned to the side and was used at times as a mezz’ala rather than a play-maker.

“Romano can take that role easily, he needs to play these games to keep on improving.”

Italy end this run of four Nations League matches in 11 days with definite improvements from the opening 2-0 defeat to Belgium, beating Turkiye 4-1 in Bursa, drawing 1-1 in France, and then this evening’s result at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna.

The Nazionale come back together for the final two Group A games next month, hosting France on November 12 and then visiting Belgium on November 15.

“We’ve got to continue like this, we’ll probably have to play for our spot in Belgium.”

Italy are now second in Group A on seven points, behind France with 10, but above Belgium on six.

Group A1

Rank	Teams	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goal difference	Points
1	France	4	3	1	0	5	10
2	Italy	4	2	1	1	3	7
3	Belgium	4	2	0	2	1	6
4	Turkey	4	0	0	4	-9	0