Roberto Mancini: They fired me, but made it look like I left

The former Italian national football team coach, Roberto Mancini, spoke for the first time since leaving this position.

“I didn’t do anything to be ‘killed’ like that. They fired me and said it was my choice,” the coach said in an interview with La Repubblica, Messaggero and Libero newspapers.

“It’s as if I killed someone, and I only exercised my right to make decisions. Why are there such fierce personal attacks on me? I did not expect to be declared a moral judgement. I tried to talk several times with Gravina (former president of the Italian Football Federation) and explain my views to him. I explained to him that during these months I needed peace, he didn’t do it and I was forced to leave.”

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“Have you seen a president change the coaching staff of the national team? Gravina has been trying to do it for a year. I knew that president Gravina chose Gianluigi (b. a. Buffon) and it was the right decision after Vialli. I have nothing against him,” Mancini said.

“I have always been correct. When I came to the national team, I refused better offers. Then I made my choice and it was the most important post in my life. And I left the team 25 days before the next game, not three”.