Roberto Mancini accepted boos from Italy fans as a normal part of the game but insisted there were positives to take from a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on his return as head coach. The Euro 2020 winner returned to the Azzurri for a second spell this summer, three years after controversially leaving the role to take a lucrative role as Saudi Arabia manager. Tasked with overseeing a turnaround in fortunes for the four-time world champions after a third consecutive failed World Cup qualification campaign, Mancini’s side got off to a bad start Friday as they were booed off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome after losing their UEFA Nations League opener.

Speaking at a post-match press conference, it was put to Mancini that the task of winning back the fans could be like scaling Everest. “It will be even better in the end, when you reach the top,” he said. “This is quite normal, you lose and the fans are disappointed and angry, that is part of the game.” Goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio either side of half-time gave the Belgians a deserved win to kick off Mark van Bommel’s managerial reign in style.

Italy were outplayed in spells and had goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for keeping them in the game in the first half, but Mancini saw things to build on ahead of two games against Turkey and a trip to France during the international break. “We can pick up from the 25 minutes of the second half when we were very aggressive, recovering all the second balls, we didn’t concede anything at all,” Mancini said. “This was a positive thing for me. We have to try to lose fewer balls, which is what we did in the first half, have a little more possession, with calmness and not forcing situations when there is no space.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)