Roberto Mancini believes a winning start to Italy’s Nations League campaign will be the perfect medicine after the Azzurri missed out on this summer’s World Cup.
Italy will face Belgium at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday in what will be Mancini’s first game back in charge after taking over from Gennaro Gattuso.
Mancini previously led the Azzurri from 2018 to 2023, defeating England in a penalty shootout to win the European Cup five years ago.
During his first term, Mancini led Italy to a European record 37-game unbeaten run, a record that was later broken by Spain when they defeated Argentina in the World Cup final.
The 61-year-old won 38 of 58 games (D12-8) in his first spell in charge before resigning in August 2023 after his bid to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup failed, before briefly taking charge of Saudi Arabia.
Italy are placed in Group A1 along with Belgium, France and Türkiye, and they will face these three countries during this extended international break.
The Azzurri finished third in the Nations League twice in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 seasons, and Mancini believes that a good start will go some way to repairing the damaged relationship between fans and the team.
“Considering that we only have two days to prepare for this game, it will not be easy to play well from the start,” Mancini told reporters of his goals for the Nations League.
“This is what international football is like. We have to get things done quickly and get results. This is the only cure for our troubles.”
“We want to get to the semi-finals of the National League. It’s a strong group, so it won’t be easy, but we’ll try. I can’t wait to hear the national anthem.
“Many of these players are very experienced and there will naturally be pressure, but it’s positive pressure because playing football is their passion and they need to enjoy it.”
Mancini style @Frecciarossa_IT #ITABEL #bluejackets #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/uOI84uNQR4
— Italy (@Azzurri_En) September 24, 2026
Mancini’s final game in charge of Italy three years ago saw the Azzurri beat the Netherlands 3-2 to finish third in the Nations League, but the end of his tenure was overshadowed by a failure to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar.
After Luciano Spalletti took office, Gattuso also failed to lead the Italian team to the World Cup. The Italian team lost 1-4 to Bosnia and Herzegovina in a penalty shootout and missed the World Cup for the third consecutive time.
“Unfortunately, this is football and sometimes you can lose games in ridiculous ways,” Mancini added.
“But the great thing about this sport is that it gives you an opportunity to make amends immediately. We have to keep that in mind and then look to the future.”
Gianluigi Donnarumma, who was outstanding for Italy during those near misses, echoed Mancini’s disappointment.
Donnarumma has played for Italy since he was 17 and may not play in his first World Cup until he is 31 after the national team’s recent setbacks.
“It’s very difficult,” Donnarumma told Sky Sport Italia. “It’s hard for me to even explain this. It’s been a very long and difficult summer but we have to start over.
“It’s a new era and we have a big game tomorrow and fans like us are disappointed, so it’s our duty to inspire them and make them fall in love with the Azzurri jersey again.”