Lippi Regrets Quitting Italy

CelticKing · Aug 18, 2008

Lippi Regrets Quitting Italy

Returning Italy coach Marcello Lippi has confessed that he regrets quitting the Azzurri after the 2006 World Cup.

Lippi famously led La Nazionale to glory in Germany, and just over two years later the tactician has returned to his old job, replacing Roberto Donadoni after the Euro 2008 disappointment.

The 60-year-old’s first game back in charge is a friendly against Austria in Nice on Wednesday.

“I immediately regretted leaving the job,” Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“I told myself that I was an imbecile so many times for quitting. I told the FIGC President that I was available and if things didn’t go according to plan in Euro 2008 I would be there.

“Everything is much sweeter second time around. I just want to play an important role in this squad again. I didn’t speak to any other teams or countries because of that and anyone who came to try and get me was ignored.”

Lippi is confident that his second spell in charge of the Azzurri can be as successful as the first, and he has set his sights on integrating some of the Under-21 stars into his squad over the coming months.

“Two years ago a group had to be built from nothing,” he explained.

“This time it’s just a matter of taking things forward. We need to recreate the conditions needed to win.

“We also need to calmly integrate the young talent in the Under-21 side. They can give us the enthusiasm and the freshness.

“I want to start again with a good win. In my first reign I started with a defeat, but that also happened to 1982 World Cup winning Coach Enzo Bearzot. This time I want it to be different.”

There weren’t too many surprises in Lippi’s first squad, although eyebrows were raised with the exclusion of Sampdoria star Antonio Cassano.
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