Roberto Mancini Applauds Italy's Resilience in 4-1 Win Over Turkey

Roberto Mancini expressed pride after Italy secured a strong 4-1 win over Turkey in Bursa during the UEFA Nations League. Despite heavy rain and a difficult pitch, the Azzurri delivered a commanding performance to recover from their earlier loss against Belgium.

Handling Adverse Weather with Skill

Mancini praised his team's professionalism amid challenging weather that threatened to disrupt their usual passing game. Even on a heavy surface, Italy retained control and sharpness throughout the match. He told Sky Sport Italia, "I am satisfied because the boys played well on a tough pitch and it wasn’t easy. They did beautiful things and I’m happy for them because they deserve it."

Tactical Approach and Forward Movement

The coach highlighted the fluidity of Italy’s front three, which continuously troubled Turkey’s defense. The tactical plan aimed to exploit space by assigning distinct roles to each attacker, creating confusion and overloads in critical areas. This approach led to several goals as Italy stretched play wide while attacking centrally.

Mancini explained the setup: "I had asked the attackers to start wide, with Sebastiano Esposito staying left, Giacomo Raspadori moving inside to assist, and Michael Kayode attacking on the right. In the second half, Turkey reacted predictably, which is normal."

Michael Kayode’s Memorable Debut

Michael Kayode made an immediate impact on his senior debut, scoring and impressing with his balance between defense and attack. Mancini praised his composure and effectiveness beyond just scoring, saying, "He was very good, it was his first match for the national team and it wasn’t easy for him. But he was good beyond the goal scored."

Looking Ahead to France

Despite the convincing win, Mancini kept a level-headed view on the team’s progress. He sees this result as part of a broader journey rather than an endpoint. The focus quickly shifts to recovery ahead of a challenging upcoming fixture against world-class opponents, France.

Comparing the win to their earlier loss, he said, "It’s worth as much as the defeat against Belgium was worth. What matters is that the boys have understood they can do good things, but the road is still long. Now we have to regain strength because then there is a difficult match against France."

UEFA Nations League Fixtures

• France (FRA) vs Italy (ITA): 2 Oct 2026, 21:45
• Belgium (BEL) vs Turkey (TUR): 2 Oct 2026, 21:45