Mancini: ‘Turkiye-Italy not a relegation play-off, can afford risks’

Roberto Mancini speaks at a press conference before Italy's Nations League match against Belgium (figc.it)

Roberto Mancini insists tonight’s clash with Turkiye is ‘not a relegation play-off’ for the Nations League, and he needs rotation to see young players in action. ‘Italy can afford a few risks.’

It kicks off at the Ataturk Spor Kompleski Matli Stadyumu in Bursa at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

Both teams are bottom of Group A following home defeats, but as Italy lost 2-0 to Belgium and Turkiye fell 1-0 to France, the Azzurri are behind on goal difference.

Mancini urges Italy calm and patience

“We know that we have not started well on this journey that will be long, or short, I don’t know,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

“However, it will certainly take some time to do it, seeing as we’ve only had two training sessions between the two games, and one of them was to remove fatigue. Having said that, I don’t feel time is an enemy right now.”

There was a great deal of criticism about the performance at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday.

“Despite everything, I saw a positive second half against Belgium. I am not the only one who said that, as Charles De Ketelaere admitted as much when he explained Belgium struggled, so there were positives there too.”

Now this becomes a showdown with Turkiye to avoid potential Nations League relegation, although Mancini warns people not to press the panic button just yet.

“We mustn’t think of this as a relegation play-off. We have to play this game and then we’ll see what happens and how the group pans out.”

The coach is expected to make seven changes to the starting XI for tonight’s match, including debuts at senior level for Michael Kayode of Brentford and Aston Villa’s Matteo Ruggeri.

Sandro Tonali appealed for the media and fans not to tear the Azzurri apart, and Mancini agrees with that sentiment.

“Nobody must be torn apart, because this is a football match. We just need to focus on what we see, the football thoughts, and always in good faith, never in bad faith.”

The Nations League is changing and now tied to European Championship qualification paths, as well as the dire state of Italy’s FIFA ranking.

“We are playing a Nations League, so we can afford to take a few risks. I don’t understand why in the past we reached the final phase of two Nations League tournaments and nobody seemed excited by that at all.

“In fact, now people are acting as if the Nations League is the most important thing in the world. It can be an important competition, because we want to go into the Final Four, but we know that we’re in a difficult group and there are five more games to be played.”

Italy were criticised for being too predictable and ponderous when on the attack, something that Mancini recognises.

“I want to see a good and positive attitude from the start, with a team that plays football always, even in difficult moments. Clearly, I’d also like a victory, but if we manage to play well, it would already be a positive.

“I’d hope to see better choices in the final third, because if you don’t score goals, it’s tough…”

Nicolò Zaniolo was ruled out by a muscular injury, but 10 players didn’t even make the trip to Turkiye amid fitness concerns, including Nicolò Barella, Gianluca Mancini, Diego Coppola, all of whom had started against Belgium, Honest Ahanor, Eddy Kouadio, Samuele Ricci, Samuele Inacio, Mohamed Ali Zoma and Daniel Maldini.

“It was not difficult to leave Barella behind, because we know his value, but these games will also help us get to know the younger players, those who will be with us over the next few years. If we don’t see them in a match situation, we cannot tell if they can be protagonists in certain games.”

Issa Doumbia received his senior Italy debut after moving from Venezia to Sporting CP.

“Doumbia played in Serie B last season and now he is in the Champions League, which brings experience, but he just started, so he needs time. Sebastiano Esposito made his Serie A debut three years ago, they are both players who can potentially bring a lot to the table.”

Montella took Turkiye to the 2026 World Cup, but they faltered badly in the tournament, and are currently dealing with an injury crisis.

“I believe Turkiye had a very good World Cup and didn’t deserve to lose the first two games,” insisted Mancini.

“I think we ought to evaluate the performances of the team and not just the results, so the Federation was right to keep Montella, because he’s done a very good job so far.”