Mancini eager for 'new adventure' on Italy return

Roberto Mancini expressed his enthusiasm for a fresh challenge with the Italian national team ahead of the inaugural match of his second tenure as coach. Mancini led Italy to victory in Euro 2020 during his first spell as head coach. However, they did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup and he resigned to become the coach of Saudi Arabia.

Italy, the four-time world champions, have failed to reach the knockout stage in the past three World Cups and have not played a knockout stage match since losing the 2006 final to France. Mancini begins his second stint with a home Nations League match against Belgium on Friday.

"I must not focus on negative aspects," Mancini told reporters. "When you start a new adventure, you are eager to accomplish something exceptional, and over the next four years, we will bring home something special." Mancini views this opportunity as a challenge and a new chapter in his career, aiming to win and fulfill the shared objective of the team.

For his 34-man squad, Mancini has included nine players for the upcoming four matches, such as 18-year-old Bologna goalkeeper Massimo Pessina and Brentford's 22-year-old right-back Michael Kayode. He added a 10th rookie, Aston Villa left-back Matteo Ruggeri, who replaced the injured Federico Dimarco. Mancini expressed his expectation for these young players to bring a carefree attitude, emphasizing the importance of getting to know them to build a strong team for the future.

"The group for these four matches is larger, considering our goal for this cycle," Mancini explained. "With that objective in mind, I called up a bigger group for the quick succession of four matches." Italy will next play Belgium in Rome, followed by Turkey in Bursa, France at the Stade de France, and host Turkey in Bologna.