Mansion Sports – Italy’s defeat to Belgium has once again brought the atmosphere within the Azzurri squad into the spotlight.

The disappointing performance in front of their home supporters sparked criticism, but Sandro Tonali chose to view the situation as part of the process of building a new squad.

The Italian midfielder admitted that the national team currently does not have a superstar figure who can become the centre of attention.

However, he stressed that the young players need time to build connections and show their quality to the fullest.

Honest Assessment After the Defeat to Belgium

The atmosphere around the Italian national team suffered a major blow after an unconvincing performance at the Stadio Olimpico.

The supporters in Rome clearly showed their disappointment. The final whistle was met with jeers and whistles after the Azzurri had to admit defeat to Belgium on Friday.

Ahead of Monday’s match against Turkey, who also suffered a disappointing result after losing 1-0 at home to France in their previous match, Tonali did not try to avoid the reality of the situation facing Italy. He admitted that a gloomy atmosphere had surrounded the team in recent days.

“I think many people are disappointed. We have to be honest and talk about what this defeat has caused, from the supporters’ whistles to the sad faces in the dressing room,” Tonali told Sky Sport Italia.

The midfielder accepted that the criticism was entirely understandable given the performance shown on the pitch.

“But you have to accept it, because the match was not a positive one and we deserved to lose,” he added, while stressing the importance of responsibility from every member of the squad.

A Squad in Transition

The Azzurri squad is currently undergoing major changes under Mancini, who has returned for his second spell as coach.

He is trying to restore pride in Italian football after the disappointment of failing to appear at the last three World Cup editions.

The run of failures included the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Mancini was still in charge during the qualifying stage.

Despite those disappointments, the coach still has a strong record with the national team, particularly after guiding Italy to the European Championship title at Euro 2020.

“The important thing now is to react, and we can do that within a few days. This group is very healthy, with many young players. Having everything immediately is difficult, we do not have star players,” Tonali explained.

The former AC Milan player believes the quality of the young players in this squad will eventually become visible once they develop stronger relationships and a better understanding of one another.

“There is time, we have to spend time together, work and enjoy being together. We are healthy and strong people. With time, our quality will emerge.”

A Different Fate in North London

The 2026-27 season has been a challenging period for Tonali, both at club and international level.

Tottenham currently sit at the bottom of the Premier League table with just two points from their opening five matches, after the midfielder made a major £100 million move from Newcastle United during the summer.

Although Tottenham are enduring a poor run of results in London, the 26-year-old remains optimistic about the direction the Premier League club is taking.

Tonali was quick to point out that Tottenham’s performances on the pitch actually provide greater reason for hope than their current results suggest.

“Football is very strange. In ten days, everything can change from negative to positive. Regarding Tottenham: the moment is negative in terms of results, but positive in terms of the football we are playing,” he said when discussing his situation at the club.

Distinguishing the Problems at Club and National Team Level

The situation at Tottenham will not become any easier when club football resumes after the ongoing international break.

Spurs face a demanding schedule. They will travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on October 10, then host Coventry City on October 19, before ending that difficult period with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on October 24.

“We play well, create chances, and if you do not score in football, you will lose. But we are not buried yet. We are still alive and remain positive,” Tonali said about his life with Spurs.

“Here with the national team, the situation is different: this is a very new and young group, a group that has never played together. We just need to take our time.”

For Tonali, the difference between the situations at Tottenham and Italy lies in the development stage of each team.

According to him, Tottenham have already shown a style of play that can provide hope despite the results not going their way.

Meanwhile, Italy are building a new group of players who still need time to find their chemistry and collective identity.

Tonali’s message after the defeat to Belgium was quite clear: Italy may not yet have a star player who can immediately become the centre of attention, but the young squad still has an opportunity to develop.

What is needed now is time, teamwork, and an opportunity for each player’s quality to eventually emerge.