Lucrezia Ciotti Roberto Mancini 's press conference following Italy's victory over Turkey was deeply emotional . When asked what he missed most about his first spell with the national team, the coach responded briefly, remembering his friend and longtime teammate Gianluca Vialli.
Italy looks ahead after victory over Turkey: Mancini's words
Mancini gave an initial assessment of the Azzurri's new path. The 3-1 win against Turkey provided positive signs and allowed Italy to continue their pursuit of qualification. The coach emphasized the growth of the group and the importance of the upcoming matches. Regarding Vergara and Doumbia , both making their debuts, he explained that matches of this level can help them gradually improve their performances, while he also praised Romano.
Particular attention was paid to Pio Esposito , who put in another convincing performance for the Azzurri and has already scored seven goals in 13 appearances . Mancini highlighted his determination in particular: " He's hungry to fight, to play, and to score: he's extraordinary in that respect . " According to the coach, the young striker still has a lot of room for improvement and can become a centre-forward capable of inspiring the team to play consistently.
Roberto Mancini gets emotional when talking about Gianluca Vialli: "I miss him."
A moment of intense emotion marked Roberto Mancini's press conference following Italy's 3-1 victory over Turkey in the Nations League. When asked what he missed most about his first spell in charge of the Azzurri, the coach responded with just two words: " Gianluca Vialli . " Visibly moved , Mancini mentioned his friend's name, and the press room responded with prolonged applause . Vialli, who passed away in January 2023, had also been at his side during Mancini's first spell as national coach, which culminated in the 2021 European Championship victory.
The bond between the two, born during their time at Sampdoria and continued with the national team, remained profound even after the former striker's passing. Among the most symbolic images of their friendship is their embrace after the European triumph at Wembley. Speaking about his return to the Azzurri bench and the choices made after his resignation in 2023, Mancini explained to Radio Rai : " He would have told me not to go to Saudi Arabia, he would have stopped me . " He then added: " We were like brothers and you always talk to a brother , but you definitely ask a brother for advice, especially when the person is as special as Luca ."