Marcello Lippi takes 'Italy defeat' responsibility
Lippi takes 'Italy defeat' responsibility
Posted: 2010-06-25 07:17
Italian coach Marcello Lippi has taken full responsibility for the dismal showing that the defending champions put up at the World Cup and is anticipating a heavy dose of criticism when he returns home and vacates the job.
So keen was Lippi to state his case that he asked to be given the platform to outline his case before the media had even thrown any questions at him about the biggest shock of the tournament, the Slovakians ousting them 3-2 from the tournament.
"I take full responsibility," said Lippi in reference to the terrible display that the Italians gave in stuttering out of the first round after having won the World Cup four years ago.
The Italian media that were waiting to attack the coach were drained of their ammunition as Lippi shouldered the blame while at the same time pointing out how Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo's injuries had limited them.
"If the team is unable to express itself then it means me as the coach is at fault. I didn't train the team psychologically, technically, tactically and physically in the way that I should have.
"I take all responsibility and I am extremely sorry for the federation and our fans.
"It is sad to see the performance that we saw today in the first half, not to mention the second half. I want to say I am sorry because I expected nothing like this. I didn't expect to win the World Cup, but I also didn't expect us to perform so badly. When Pirlo and Buffon could not give us their assistance, we were affected. I take responsibility for the choices that I made in the last three matches and the way I introduced players in those games.
"I wish the best to my successor and thank you all for the past four years, part of which were fantastic and part of which were disappointing," said Lippi.
"I rejoiced when we won in 2006 and now I am taking responsibility for our failure. This team did not play for an hour and 15 minutes and only came to life in the last 10 minutes, why that happened I don't know.
"Right now no one can believe that this was the real Italian team out there. I don't want to play the role of the victim but the reality is that the leader is always responsible. Inside me I still refuse to believe that we are as bad as you saw in this tournament," Lippi added.
The 62 year-old coach quit his post after the success in Germany but was then brought back after the Azzuri disappointed at Euro 2008 under Roberto Donadoni.
"I don't regret having come back and I don't have any intention of coaching soon. I just want to take a rest for the next few months and see what then happens from there."
: 2010-06-25 08:25
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