Roberto Mancini Commends Italy's Resilience After 4-1 Win Over Turkey in Nations League

Italy Shines on Challenging Turf in Bursa

Roberto Mancini, the Italy manager, expressed pride after his team secured a commanding 4-1 victory against Turkey in the UEFA Nations League match held in Bursa. Despite difficult weather and a heavy pitch, Italy delivered a strong performance that helped them bounce back from their earlier loss to Belgium.

Technical Skill Stands Out Amid Adverse Conditions

Mancini praised the professionalism displayed by his squad, noting how they managed to keep their composure despite the heavy rain threatening to disrupt their passing game. Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said, "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." The result brought a boost to the team’s morale after the previous setback.

Tactical Setup Creates Constant Threats

A notable aspect of the match was Italy's fluid attacking trio, which kept Turkey’s defense under pressure throughout the game. Mancini explained that the tactical plan focused on stretching the field and creating overloads in central areas. Each attacker had specific roles to keep opponents off balance.

He outlined the instructions given to his forwards: "I had asked the attackers to start wide, with Sebastiano Esposito staying wide on the left, Giacomo Raspadori moving inside to support, and Michael Kayode attacking on the right. In the second half, Turkey reacted as expected, which is normal." This approach paid off as Italy controlled much of the play and scored freely.

Michael Kayode Impresses on Debut

The evening was especially memorable for Michael Kayode, who scored on his first appearance with the senior national team. He adapted effortlessly, balancing defensive duties with forward runs, perfectly fitting into Italy’s tactical framework.

Mancini praised Kayode’s overall contribution beyond the goal: "He was very good; it was his first game with the national team and it wasn’t easy for him. But he was impressive beyond just scoring." Kayode’s performance added a fresh dynamic to Italy’s attack.

Focus Turns to Upcoming Clash With France

Despite the convincing win, Mancini remains cautious about the team’s progress, emphasizing that this victory is part of a bigger process rather than an endpoint. The squad must now recover quickly and prepare for a challenging match against France, a game where the stakes will be even higher.

Comparing the win to the prior defeat against Belgium, Mancini said, "It’s worth as much as the loss was. What matters is the boys have understood they can do good things, but the road is still long. Now we need to regain strength because there’s a tough match against France coming up."

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