Roberto Mancini returns to Bologna on Monday night with the noise around Italy suddenly softer. The national coach, once greeted with deep suspicion after his July comeback, has used a convincing response in France to shift the mood before Turkey visit the Renato Dall’Ara at 20:45.
A return to Bologna and a changing atmosphere
The ground carries personal weight for Mancini. It was at Bologna’s stadium that he made his first Serie A appearance on 13 September 1981, aged only 16. More than 45 years later, the former forward and trophy-winning coach comes back leading Italy through another rebuilding phase.
- Mancini left the Italy job unexpectedly in August 2023, during qualification for Euro 2024, before taking up a hugely lucrative contract in Saudi Arabia.
- His return as Italy coach in July was met with considerable doubt, particularly after a 2-0 defeat to Belgium in Rome on 25 September.
- Italy then beat Turkey 4-1 on 28 September, giving Mancini’s new spell its first real lift.
- Before facing France at the Stade de France, Mancini said on 1 October that results would alter the atmosphere around the team.
- Italy drew 1-1 with France, showing resilience after falling behind and further easing the pressure on their coach.
- Turkey now provide the final test in a demanding run of four matches in 11 days.
Mancini has not abandoned the principles that helped Italy win Euro 2021. His message has again centred on calm, confidence and an attacking approach rather than panic after a difficult opening result.
Building a group after World Cup pain
The scar of Italy’s third successive failure to qualify for the World Cup has not disappeared. The March play-off defeat in Bosnia, following a 1-1 draw and a 4-1 loss on penalties, remains close enough to shape the national mood.
But Mancini believes the first task is collective rather than tactical. “Before a team can think about winning, it has to become a group,” he said. “Football has always worked that way. The key for us was getting the players to believe in themselves. They are good players and they will improve further.”
Nicolo Barella, one of the more experienced figures in an increasingly young squad, said the manager’s composure has helped the players reset after recent disappointments.
“One of the coach’s major strengths is that he allows us to live through these moments calmly,” Barella said. “We have had difficult periods in recent years, but he asked us to recover our enthusiasm. I think we did that, because otherwise we would not have responded as we did after France scored.”
Vergara could be handed his chance
Mancini is expected to make extensive changes again on Monday. Moise Kean is injured, while Antonio Vergara could come into the starting side.
The 23-year-old made his senior Italy debut as a substitute at the Stade de France. A start in Bologna would underline Mancini’s willingness to accelerate the development of younger players in this renewed international cycle.
“When a young player has ability, you have to trust him,” Mancini said — a line from a coach who first stepped onto a Serie A pitch as a teenager at the same stadium where Italy now seek to extend their recovery.
