Roberto Mancini responded to criticism after leaving the Italian national team.

"I didn't run away anywhere and I didn't kill anyone. I don't think I deserve all the dirt that has been dumped on me. I deserve respect. And Saudi Arabia has nothing to do here. I have absolutely nothing there," Mancini said.

When asked if the Italians do not understand why he left the team and what was the real reason, Mancini said:

"After working for five and a half years, something like this can happen. I had a two-and-a-half-year contract, but I had been thinking about leaving for several months. Maybe it's time to leave, because some things have changed, some situations have appeared that have shown that everything is coming to an end.

I don't think I killed or disrespected anyone. I didn't kill anyone. I am sad to read and hear some things about myself. I hoped that I could stay because I really liked working with the Italian national team. But when the situation changes and you realize that it's time to leave, you have to choose the right time.

In June, the team played in the League of Nations. I haven't left them out - the European Championships don't start tomorrow morning, although there's not much time left. When preparing the team, you have only one week for training. This is our job, unfortunately. But everything I've heard about myself is wrong. It's just time to leave," Mancini said in an interview with Corriere dello Sport.