Sandro Tonali urges patience as Italy rebuild after Belgium loss | OneFootball

Sandro Tonali says Italy lack a marquee superstar and has urged patience as Roberto Mancini beds in a new group after the 2-0 Nations League defeat to Belgium.

Boos rang out at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday as the Azzurri slipped to defeat. They face Türkiye on Monday, who lost 1-0 at home to France last time out.

"I think a lot of people were left disappointed. We have to be honest and talk about what this defeat brought, from the whistles of the fans to the sad faces in the dressing room. But you have to accept it, because the game was not a positive one and we deserved to lose," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"The important thing now is to react, and we can do that within a few days. The group is very healthy, with a lot of young players. Having everything immediately is difficult, we don't have the star player."

Italy are in transition under Mancini, back for a second spell. The 2022 World Cup qualifying heartbreak still lingers, though he also delivered Euro 2020 glory.

It has been a testing start at Tottenham too, who are bottom of the Premier League with two points from five matches after his £100 million move from Newcastle United.

"Football is very strange. In ten days everything can change from negative to positive. On Tottenham: the moment is negative for results but positive for the football we are playing."

"We play well, we create, and if you don't score in football you lose, but we are not buried. We are alive, positive." Spurs visit Manchester United on 10 October, host Coventry City on 19 October, then go to Chelsea on 24 October.

Source: Goal.com

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