Mancini: I still want to win the World Cup I believe Italy can enter the World Cup next year

Former Italian national team coach Mancini accepted an exclusive interview with "Milan Sports" and talked about topics such as the head coach of the Italian national team and the Champions League final.

Have you ever expected the national team to be caught in such a fierce storm?

Mancini: Similar situations always happen in the football world. The problem is that two or three events have occurred this time.

Which one surprised you more about Spalletti's ending or Ranieri's encounter?

Mancini: I have no basis for judging: I need to know the specifics but that is not the case. Besides, this involves other coaches, so it is not appropriate to comment rashly.

If you remember correctly, you have expressed regret for leaving the national team at least three times. Is this the fourth time now?

Mancini: To be more precise, if Gravina and I were in those weeks, we should have been able to communicate fully on certain situations earlier, maybe nothing would have happened. But people do make bad decisions sometimes.

What is the main reason that prompted you to make a hasty decision?

Mancini: It is true that the trust I feel is not as good as before, but I should have communicated with the Chairman in person: I have this opportunity but I am not sure, it is my fault. Perhaps we will continue to cooperate today: to strive for the World Cup. It may even try to defend the title after winning the European Cup.

Then what is your reason for returning?

Mancini: Because for the coach, coaching the national team is the supreme honor: I have won at the club, but winning the championship for Italy is completely different. Also because people always want to go back to the place they were once happy.

Very happy?

Mancini: My days in Covelciano were amazing and I got along well with everyone. The atmosphere there is really beautiful.

This atmosphere seems to be missing recently?

Mancini: How do I evaluate this? I can only say that I understand many of the players on the team and feel sorry for their incoming situation.

But have you considered that it would be a huge adventure for you to take the lead in the face of a national team that is closer to the playoffs than to advance directly to the World Cup?

Mancini: This is undoubtedly a major challenge. Of course there are risks, yes. But sometimes people have to take some risks, right?

Do you want to return more because you feel that you owe Italian fans or because of your dream of winning the World Cup?

Mancini: The only debt I owe to the fans is this: As I have always emphasized, I long, and still want to win the World Cup.

You have said this many times. Will you reiterate it now?

Mancini: When I first took office in 2018, I said I wanted to win the European Cup, and people thought I was crazy: it seemed like a fantasy at the time, and we were regarded as the seventh and eighth hottest. Didn’t we win the semi-finals and finals penalty in the end? Didn’t Argentina defeat the Netherlands and France to win the World Cup? Our four years of victory and record are by no means accidental.

You have not answered positively...

Mancini: I reiterate it because I believe in the possibility. I'm sure we are fully qualified to enter the World Cup next year. It can even be said that I'm pretty sure we can advance: some of the remarks sound like we've been out...

Are you overly pessimistic now?

Mancini: Pessimism is easiest to spread because it has a more marketable market: negative news is always more eye-catching and can trigger discussion.

But is it just a good wish for Italy to lead the team to the World Cup led by Mancini?

Mancini: I cannot predict the future at this moment, and now is not the time to discuss. However, I made it clear about the wrong choice at the time and now that I will not repeat the same mistake. I said it clearly a few months ago rather than in recent storms.

The survey of "Milan Sports" shows that 34% of respondents support you in the second entry of the palace. What do you think is the reason?

Mancini: Perhaps because the memories of the European Cup are still in everyone's mind, and because people believe that miracles can be reproduced. Apart from that, I can only say that this support makes me feel relieved.

Saki publicly stated that you deserve another chance, what does this mean to you?

Mancini: Arigo is a legend in the national team and a role model in the coaching industry. His evaluation is important.

He also mentioned that he had given up a lot of income for the national team

Mancini: Actually, I have also given up a lot of economic interests. But it is natural to pay for the national team.

Is there room for repair of your relationship with Gravina?

Mancini: I don't think this is a problem. We have had a meeting and exchange, and the Chairman understands that people are not sages. It is most important to understand this with each other, no matter what the future holds.

Have you been in contact recently?

Mancini: Not in the past few days, but the last communication was not far away.

still keep in touch with the former disciples?

Mancini: I haven't contacted since the last two games, but we have never broken off: I'll send messages to each other, especially when their club performs well. This bond will last forever, they are special players to me, and I believe I am the same for them.

In hindsight: Do you think winning that European Cup is really a miracle?

Mancini: This is definitely an extraordinary journey, especially in difficult times. Football does need luck to support it. Even a team with Messi and Ronaldo is difficult to win the championship without luck. Argentina mentioned earlier: Martinez failed to save Muani's shot before the end of the game, and they would miss the World Cup where they won the penalty kick.

And sometimes the misfortune comes absurdly, just like we missed the World Cup: we were completely in control of the situation in the group stage, but were eliminated due to two penalty kicks; we only conceded 1 goal against North Macedonia and were eliminated. The game that should have ended 4-1 or 5-1 was like a game that should have won 3-0 against Switzerland. Football is sometimes given and sometimes captured. We are lucky in the European Cup, but the World Cup is tricked by fate..

It seems contradictory but reasonable: did that victory make Italian football illusion that our football level is higher than reality?

Mancini: It is a fact that Serie A is not as good as 20 or 30 years ago, and it is also a fact that the ratio of Chinese and foreign players to local players in the league is reversed. We give young people too few opportunities, and 16-year-old players will definitely not get training opportunities in other leagues. Nowadays, children lack the influence of three or five hours of street football before participating in training three times a week. Children playing football on the street can be seen everywhere in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay, but it is rare in Italy.

Your remarks that "the national team always brings Pafondi and adds 22 more people" caused heated discussion. Is this bet too radical?

Mancini: It's a mystery to me: I can't understand why he can't play in Serie A. I've observed him many times. Of course there are other good seedlings, but how can you grow if you don’t play? Young players need to play, substitute, and then play, and the most important thing is to be allowed to make mistakes.

Can you recommend a new star worth paying attention to next season?

Mancini: I was optimistic about Fazini, and he finally got more opportunities. I personally like Liberari very much. Luca also has the potential to become a top center.

After finishing Saudi coaching, have you received other job invitations?

Mancini: At least two Serie A invitations and three overseas invitations, including those from Botafogo, Brazil. But I chose to wait, want to see if Italy has a chance.

What do you think about Inter Milan's defeat in the Champions League final?

Mancini: The game started very badly: conceded two goals in a row within 20 minutes, which completely disrupted the tactical rhythm of the pre-match deployment. But to be honest, Paris Saint-Germain is indeed very powerful and will be fatal once they are given off. They are the stronger side, that's all.

Have Inter contacted you when considering Inzaghi's successor? Have Juventus also found you after Conte refused?

Mancini: Never received any contact from Inter Milan. The conversation with Juventus happened a few months ago, and now they have a coach: Tudor is doing a good job.

Is Napoli a favorite to win the Serie A next season?

Mancini: It depends on the strength of other teams' signings. Naples has the financial strength to strengthen, and I think they do have the lead. But be careful about Juventus.

How do you view Allegri's return?

Mancini: He is an experienced coach, familiar with Milan and proficient in top football: he will do a great job.

Coach Mancini, where do you expect you to coach in September?

Mancini: Maybe it's too early in September... Let's take a look, it may be easier to coach overseas at this stage. But one thing is certain: it must be a job invitation that makes me happy.