Former Inter defender Daniele Adani feels that Italy coach Roberto Mancini has shown some growth on a personal level to not rashly decide to step down after the shock defeat to North Macedonia on Thursday.
Speaking to Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport in an interview published in today’s print edition, Adani noted the difference in maturity from the coach compared to his impulsive exit from Inter in the 2007-08 season.
After the Nerazzurri were eliminated by Liverpool from the round of sixteen of the Champions League in the 2007-08 season, then-coach Mancini announced his intentions to step down from his role at the end of the season.
The coach’s comments caused a stir, and in the end he was sacked when the season finished, replaced with Jose Mourinho.
Now, Mancini is in charge of the Italian national team, but after having guided the Azzurri to victory at the Euros last summer, they have failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup following 1-0 defeat to North Macedonia in a playoff.
“I believe that Roberto Mancini had the idea of participating in the World Cup and then moving on,” Adani said. “It’s his nature to seek new challenges without fear.”
He continued that “After this defeat, however, he did not let himself get swept up in an impulse as he had, for example, when he stated publicly that he would leave Inter after their defeat against Liverpool in the Champions Leaguem and that is a good thing.”
“More than thirteen years later he has matured and he will make his choice carefully and with lucidity,” the former defender added.
“He will think about the reasons for this elimination and his relationship with this group,” he went on, “have they given everything that they can or can they still go on?”
