Roberto Mancini admitted trying to win the Nations League is a daunting task despite succeeding at Euro 2020 with Italy.
Italy, who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, underwent a transformative period under Mancini, culminating in them winning Euro 2020 – their first European Championship since 1968.
The Azzurri, led by experienced campaigners such as Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, are on a 37-game unbeaten run as they prepare for their Nations League semi-final with Spain on Wednesday.
Indeed, Mancini s side required penalties to edge past Spain in the semi-finals at Euro 2020 and the 56-year-old is expecting another tough task against Luis Enrique s men at San Siro.
Spain were the team we struggled against most during Euro 2020. They are a good team with good players, Mancini told UEFA s official website.
It will be a good match. [Passing the ball on the ground is] something they are the best at. We didn’t have the time to master it at their level. It will be different this time.
It would be amazing to win [the Nations League straight] after the European Championship and it would be amazing to qualify for the World Cup early, but it won t be that easy.
Italy were at a low ebb when Mancini was appointed and he immediately recalled familiar faces, settling on a more attacking mindset as he attempted to instil pride back in the team.
His side subsequently achieved glory – their first triumph since the 2006 World Cup – and the former Manchester City manager expressed his delight at delivering success for Italian football.
It was great because we made many people happy, both young and old, Mancini continued.
So it was something for everybody. Something that made a lot of people happy, maybe also because of these times we have been living through. The fans have been enthusiastic, and we play to entertain people. It was a wonderful time.
The best things about the Euro s? Probably the relationship we created within the team. It was a group that worked together for 50 days and that s not easy.
They were hard, tiring [days], but there weren t any issues. It was the chemistry and the love, that isn t something easy to obtain.
[The perception of the Italy team] has changed, but we can t forget that Italy is a country that has won four World Cups. [We] are the European champions and have a significant history.
