Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina insists Roberto Mancini to remain in charge of the national team despite the country’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
Gravina said changes are needed following the Azzurri’s 1-0 loss to North Macedonia in Thursday’s playoff semifinal in Palermo but a coaching move is not one of them.
“I hope Mancini will immediately dispose of the bitterness we all have and continue because he has a commitment with us,” Gravina said.
Mancini, who guided Italy to Euro 2020 glory last summer, described the shocking result against North Macedonia, which left Italy out of a World Cup for a second straight time, as his “biggest personal disappointment” and added that the setback was “too great” to talk about his future.
Gravina said Mancini and Italy must move on from this huge disappointment and come back stronger.
“When you are part of the world of sport you need to accept these verdicts,” he said.
“The joy of the European Championship remains but now this unexpected bitterness has arrived, perhaps an undeserved result but this is football.
“There is a project, and we will react. We must go ahead with our heads held high, protect our affection for our national team. Some mistakes have been made and we need to understand their nature.”
