After the surprising resignation of Roberto Mancini as national coach of European soccer champions Italy, the argument about the reasons is spreading.
First, Mancini spoke of a “personal decision”. He later told the Corriere della Sera newspaper that he felt a “lack of trust” from the head of the Italian federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, who had replaced part of his coaching staff.
The FIGC boss now sharply criticized his ex-coach in an interview. “I never entered the field, never suggested a player, never asked for the line-up. I didn’t deserve such words,” Gravina told the “Corriere della Sera”.
His trust in Mancini was “total” and he showed that with his behavior. The 69-year-old also criticized his former national coach for his choice of words. “If I didn’t have confidence, would I have signed him until 2026?” he argued.
“I’m bitter. I was disappointed”
Gravina initially held back in the days after Mancini’s resignation. “But now I can say it quite frankly: I’m bitter. I was disappointed.”
His move came like a bolt from the blue for Gravina and Italian football. In addition, Mancini’s wife Silvia, who is also his lawyer, sent the message to Gravina.
Given the long friendship between the two, he would have appreciated it more “if Mancini had expressed his will by looking me in the eye.”
Mancini handed in his resignation in mid-August after a good five years as national coach. In 2021, the 58-year-old led Italy to the European Championship title and thus celebrated the greatest success with the national team since winning the world championship in 2006. Italy’s master coach and former Napoli coach, Luciano Spalletti, has now taken over for him.