A lot of ridicule for the ex-Italy boss
Saudi coach Mancini messes up his debut in the north of England
September 9, 2023, 4:29 p.m
The premiere with the Saudi Arabian national team brought coach Roberto Mancini a huge disappointment. His team loses 3-1 against Costa Rica in Newcastle. In the European home of the “Green Falcons” it was the fifth defeat in a row. Not a good start for the top coach.
Roberto Mancini’s interpreter had to do hard work. Like a shadow, the man in charge of translating followed the Italian football teacher, who has recently become Saudi Arabia’s new selection coach, on the sidelines and of course does not yet speak the Arabic language.
In a dark suit and tie, Mancini paced up and down in the coaching zone; he needed to talk and wanted to help his team with tactical tips – but there was no success. The Italian European champion coach of 2021 had to accept a 1:3 (0:2) against Costa Rica in his debut game as Saudi national coach. In four days his team will play again in Newcastle against South Korea under coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
There were several thousand spectators at St. James’ Park against Costa Rica, including a group of English fans who protested against Saudi “sportswashing”. Ali al-Bulaihi (68th) scored the consolation goal for the kingdom’s team. As coach of European champions Italy, Mancini was lured with a multi-million offer from Saudi Arabia. The coach is said to have been guaranteed an impressive 90 million euros for four years.
Italian media surprised at the lack of quality
The Italian newspapers were critical of the Saudis and the coach. “Mancini fails to raise the modest technical and tactical level of the Green Falcons, who suffered their fifth defeat in a row against Costa Rica,” commented “Tuttosport”. “Mancini starts his steep path as coach of Saudi Arabia with a defeat between indifference and protests: a walk through the desert,” commented “Corriere della Sera”.
“After the four defeats in a row that led to his separation from coach Herve Renard, Mancini began his new role with a setback less than two weeks after his surprise move to Riyadh. Painless, as it was still a friendly, but worrying “Because the team with which the former coach of the Squadra Azzurra wants to make history has been shown its limitations,” commented the “Corriere dello Sport”.
The Italian sports newspapers complained that Mancini had few players of international stature. Most players would be inaccurate and naive in all areas of the pitch, starting with goalkeeper Nawaf Al Aqidit.