Oriali Warns of Difficult Times for Italy and Critiques Juventus Ultras
Gabriele Oriali has warned that Italy are walking into “a difficult spell” as Roberto Mancini returns to the Azzurri bench – and he did not hold back on the Juventus ultras who disrespected Sandro Mazzola.
The national team gathered at Coverciano on Monday, opening a demanding Nations League schedule that begins against Belgium on Friday. Italy then face Turkiye away on September 28 and France on October 2, before hosting Vincenzo Montella’s Turkish side on October 5. The group closes with France on November 12 and Belgium on November 15.
Mancini is back. So is Oriali, restored to his role as team manager. The reunion comes at a time when Italian football, in Oriali’s words, is far from its peak.
“It is certainly not the best moment for Italian football, we know that we are heading into a difficult spell,” he told Rai 2, setting the tone for this latest reboot of the national side.
The message to the squad was clear. No illusions, no excuses.
“The lads need to recognise that too. The important thing is for everyone to understand the moment, share it, have collective responsibility, respect and a little discipline, all of which never hurts.
“It is by finding that team spirit, that group togetherness, that we can then achieve results.”
Those words jarred sharply with the images that came from San Siro at the weekend.
During a minute’s silence for Italy and Inter legend Sandro Mazzola ahead of Milan–Lecce, a section of Juventus ultras turned their backs on the pitch, refusing to take part in the tribute. In a country that has built so much of its football identity on respect for its greats, the gesture cut deep.
Oriali, who came through at Inter with Mazzola as a senior figure, took it personally.
“I remember the first training sessions at the Pinetina, Mazzola was one of those who welcomed me with open arms,” he recalled. “He gave me a lift home one day after training, people couldn’t believe it when they saw him.”
For Oriali, Mazzola was not just a star of the Grande Inter era. He was a benchmark.
“I have only fond memories of him as a teammate and a person, without forgetting he was also a great director who brought Ronaldo to Serie A.”
Then came the anger.
“The ultras turning their backs was an ugly image. I hope that these people can be identified and left out of the stadium, it’s shameful. There are champions who go beyond the jerseys they wear, and this was just a deplorable gesture.”
As Italy try to rebuild a sense of unity and identity under Mancini and Oriali, the contrast could hardly be sharper: a national team preaching togetherness, while parts of its fan culture still rip at the seams.
The difficult spell Oriali fears will not be decided only on the pitch.
