Italy U21s national team head coach Silvio Baldini says that there is a mutual level of respect with CT Roberto Mancini, who ‘left us our best players for Armenia and Poland’, and says that former Juventus defender Andrea Barzagli has been a ‘pleasant surprise’ on his coaching staff.

The Azzurrini head coach spoke in-depth about Italy’s qualification for the U21 European Championship, his relationship with Mancini and Claudio Ranieri, and the fact that Pio Esposito wants to play with the junior side next summer in a recent interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Baldini and the Italy U21s ended their EUROs qualification campaign in impressive fashion, smashing Poland 6-2 in Pescara, overtaking their opposition into first place in their group and claiming a guaranteed spot at the final tournament in the process.

The highlight of that game was a spectacular, instinctive 70-yard strike from Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour, which has already been tipped as a contender for the Puskas award.

Baldini says that he has “never” seen a goal like it in his career.

“Never,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “I’m happy to be able to say that I saw such a phenomenal goal from a special player like Ndour.”

Baldini was asked for an insight into his thought process as a manager.

He explained: “It’s like speaking in front of 10 people who speak 10 different languages. To make yourself understood, you need to speak in the way they understand. I only speak Italian, but you have to alter it depending on the person in front of you. I can give you an example.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Baldini: 'Mancini nos dejó a nuestros mejores jugadores para Polonia, Barzagli una agradable sorpresa'" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Gironi & Calendario metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

Editorial Fact-Check & Verification Note: This briefing was curated, corroborated, and synthesized by the Mondiali 2026 Italia Editorial Desk. Readers following "Baldini: 'Mancini nos dejó a nuestros mejores jugadores para Polonia, Barzagli una agradable sorpresa'" are encouraged to review the full primary source coverage linked below for complete historical context, direct quotes, and official statements.