Mancini: ‘Italy make changes, biggest mistake against Turkiye’

Coach Roberto Mancini during an Italy training session (@azzurri)

Roberto Mancini confirms big Italy changes in their Nations League, while standing up for Turkiye coach Vincenzo Montella. ‘The biggest mistake would be thinking it’ll be easy.’

It kicks off at the Stadio Dall’Ara in Bologna on Monday at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

The new international calendar means this will be the fourth game in the space of two weeks, a longer spell of time together, but also one that gives precious little time for recovery.

Moise Kean has been ruled out and sent back to Como due to injury, so that is at least one change from the starting XI that drew 1-1 in France on Friday evening, but there will be many more.

Mancini ready to transform Italy

“We will make some changes,” confirmed Mancini in his press conference.

“Clearly, it has only been two days since the last game, so something has to be different to the matches with Turkiye and France. In my mind, some will be left out, while for others we’ll evaluate to the last minute.”

The same midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Nicolò Fagioli and Davide Frattesi started both the 4-1 victory in Bursa and the 1-1 draw in Paris, along with strikers Sebastiano and Pio Esposito.

These are some of the candidates to be benched tomorrow, along with Brentford right-back Michael Kayode, with Antonio Vergara and Alessandro Romano likely to step in.

“They are two young players who do have a possibility of playing,” confessed Mancini.

Turkiye are forced into some changes, as they were already missing injured Kenan Yildiz of Juventus and Inter midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, but Real Madrid starlet Arda Guler is now suspended after his red card in a 3-0 defeat to Belgium.

The pressure is growing on Mancini’s former Sampdoria teammate Montella after losing all three Nations League games, scoring one goal and conceding eight.

“I think Montella has done a good job and Turkiye are a great team,” insisted the Italy coach.

“They might not be going through a good moment right now, but people must recognise Montella brought this side back into Nations League A and qualified for the World Cup. They’ve got a lot of talent and were just unlucky at the World Cup.

“The biggest mistake we could make would be thinking tomorrow will be easy. We mustn’t underestimate Turkiye just because they lost to Belgium.”

Some teams are using the Nations League to rotate their goalkeepers too, so will Gianluigi Donnarumma be benched?

“We’re thinking of using the fourth goalkeeper,” joked the coach.

Considering the match is hosted in Bologna, will there be a chance for Nicolò Cambiaghi?

“I’ve liked Cambiaghi since his time at Empoli, because I thought he could become a great winger, so we’re working on him.”

It is the first time that Italy have played four games in a single break for international duty, an intensive camp for Mancini’s return to the bench.

“I liked it and I think the players enjoyed it too. Having said that, I do believe this is too tiring for the players compared to the previous format.”

Group A1

Rank	Teams	Played	Goal difference	Points
1	France	3	2	7
2	Belgium	3	4	6
3	Italy	3	1	4
4	Turkey	3	-7	0