ROME (AP) 鈥� issued an apology in his first public comments Wednesday after being rehired to coach an three years after he for a lucrative contract with Saudi Arabia.
鈥淚鈥檓 very sorry,鈥� Mancini said. 鈥淚t was like losing the woman of your life. And it means you did something that shouldn鈥檛 have been done. So I鈥檓 sorry, very sorry also for everything that happened over these last three years. 鈥� I鈥檓 going to try to bring the national team back where it belongs.鈥�
Italy to qualify for the World Cup, prompting the resignations of and coach in April, shortly after a .
The 61-year-old Mancini in 2021 but as Italy coach in August 2023, two weeks later.
鈥淚t was completely my fault,鈥� Mancini said, referring to a lack of communication with Gravina.
Mancini鈥檚 first match back in charge will be against Belgium in the Nations League on Sept. 25 at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. He was asked about what type of reception fans might give him.
鈥淚 realize some people will be against me,鈥� Mancini said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping the squad plays well enough that maybe people will forgive me.鈥�
Mancini was a fourth-choice option after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola turned the job down and amid political concerns over a sponsorship deal with a Russian betting firm.
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