Italy coach Mancini blasts critics: Our players do not play for their clubs

Italy coach Roberto Mancini has hit out at his critics.

Italy lost to England and defeated Malta in their opening two Euro qualifiers.

Mancini said, "We have an old guard, which is very old according to many, but not me.

The problem is that they play many games, so when they arrive here, they are tired. I've been trying to call young players, but the problem is that they often don't play for their clubs."

Questioned on the absence of Lazio attacker Mattia Zaccagni, he replied: There are valid motivations, everyone speaks knowing nothing.

This is not the right moment to do so. The door is open to everyone. I've called players who hadn't played for Italy for a long time."

He added: "Among the top seven clubs in Italy, only Lazio have an Italian centre-forward, Ciro Immobile. Everyone has his own idea, but I don't care much. If we find suitable players, we evaluate them and make decisions.

"Retegui is a young lad, he needs time and if he came to Europe or even Italy, as I am reading, it would be an advantage."