Azzurri coach Roberto Mancini confirmed that Tigre striker Mateo Retegui has been called up to the national team and explained why it will be impossible to fill the void that Gianluca Vialli has left. Mancini spoke with DAZN (as quoted by Calciomercato) about a range of issues ahead of Italy’s EURO 2024 qualifiers against England and Malta, including the lack of attacking options in the team, the positive work of Italian coaches like Luciano Spalletti and what he expects for the match at the Stadio Maradona later this month:
EUROPEAN MATCHES – “European matches have a weight. Napoli are playing smoothly. Then the 4-5 teams fighting for the Champions League are affected by the cups. Napoli play very well, they play international football. There are players who are doing really well, put together with those who have already been there for years and they have created a group that is deserving of what they are doing. In attack they are very strong.”
FROM WHOM DO YOU EXPECT SOMETHING IMPORTANT IN ATTACK? – ‘The hope is that those who are playing a little less at the moment can assert themselves. Raspadori is important for us but he doesn’t play much, Scamacca is coming from an injury and doesn’t play often. If they play they can improve, even if they make mistakes at the beginning, but then they will become important players. We have these options at the moment, including Gnonto. There’s not much choice. Zaniolo? We can’t evaluate him as a centre forward.”
RETEGUI CALLED UP? – “Yes, we’ve been following him for some time. He’s a young lad who has been playing as a starter for two years in the Argentine league. He has qualities that we lack, we thought he didn’t want to come but he immediately said yes and we called him up.”
DO THE COACHES OF SERIE A HELP YOUR JOB AS COACH? – “All coaches want to play in attack, to have organisation and empathy with the players. Sometimes you succeed, sometimes not.”
LACK OF PLAYERS IN THE SERIE A – ‘This is a problem we have had for a long time, we have to find solutions but complaining leads nowhere. The clubs make their choices, as do the coaches.”
TRUST IN ZANIOLO – “The youngsters are always central and important, but it depends on them. He can improve, even struggling, but he can do better and become an important player. Both he and the others must never give up.”
ALLEGRI HAS BROUGHT THROUGH MANY YOUNG ITALIANS – “We are very pleased, it’s clear. Fagioli and Miretti have great futures in the national team, even if we don’t have the same problems in midfield as we do in attack or defence.”
ITALIAN COACHES – “I think the Italians are all very good. Spalletti has a lot of experience, he’s having an extraordinary season. Then there are Italiano and Motta who are making their teams play well. There are many good ones.”
SAMPDORIA – “I am very sorry for what Samp is going through. Stankovic is putting everything he has into it, the fans are close to the team but for me it’s a great sorrow.”
ITALY AS THE OUTSIDER OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL – “Let’s wait the next three days, also for superstition. After the round of 16, if things go well, it wouldn’t be bad’.
HOW TO START AGAIN WITHOUT VIALLI – “You can’t. Luca is Luca and the void will be unbridgeable for everyone. What he left us and the fact that we were with him must make us happy.”
AGAINST ENGLAND AT THE MARADONA – “I hope it will be a good match and I hope the stadium will be full as I think it will be. The match will be difficult but starting well will be important. Human characteristics are important, the boys must have feeling and I hope I can call up players who are well”.
