Tonali: Italy deserved to lose to Belgium, needs time

Sandro Tonali said Italy "deserved to lose" their Nations League opener 0-2 against Belgium, and asked for time for a squad that has barely played together.

The midfielder spoke to Sky Sport Italia, with quotes carried by TuttoMercatoWeb. "I think a lot of people were left disappointed," he said. "We have to be honest and talk about what this defeat brought, from the whistles of the fans to the sad faces in the dressing room. But you have to accept it, because the game was not a positive one and we deserved to lose."

Italy play again on Monday, away in Turkiye. Tonali said the short turnaround helps. "The important thing now is to react, and we can do that within a few days. The group is very healthy, with a lot of young players. Having everything immediately is difficult, we don't have the star player."

Mancini named nine uncapped players in his squad. The average age of the XI that started at the Olimpico was 23. Italy have missed the last three World Cups.

"Time is there, we have to spend time together, work and enjoy ourselves together," Tonali said. "We are healthy, strong men. With time our qualities will come out."

He was also asked about Tottenham, who have two points from five Premier League games. They lost 3-2 at home to Aston Villa last weekend, and Tonali was withdrawn on 84 minutes. He described the club's situation differently from Italy's.

"Football is very strange. In ten days everything can change from negative to positive," he said. "On Tottenham: the moment is negative for results but positive for the football we are playing. We play well, we create, and if you don't score in football you lose, but we are not buried. We are alive, positive."

If Italy's young group does find its footing in Turkiye, Tonali's call for patience will carry more weight. A second defeat in four days would leave little room for it.