Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has warned that it would be a mistake to think Türkiye are an easy opponent ahead of their UEFA Nations League A Group 1 rematch. Speaking at a press conference at the Renato Dell'Ara Stadium in Bologna, Mancini praised the technical abilities of the side his team beat 4-1 last week.
Mancini said, "The mistake that must not be made is to definitely think that Türkiye is an easy opponent." The experienced coach confirmed Italy would make changes to their lineup following the loss to Belgium, citing player fatigue.
Praise for Montella
Mancini expressed admiration for the work of Türkiye boss Vincenzo Montella, stating, "I think Montella has taken really important steps, especially by successfully taking the team to the World Cup." He added that Türkiye had experienced major bad luck at the World Cup and, despite missing important players like Arda Güler and Barış Alper Yılmaz, the match would still be tough.
The national team travels to face Italy for the group's fourth match on the back of a 3-0 loss to Belgium and having lost their last three games. Montella's side lost 4-1 at home to Italy last month. The return fixture is scheduled for 5 October 2026.
This story first appeared at Cumhuriyet
