When the last Euros were held there was a buzz around Italy. We watched with interest because we knew a big character was coming to the Premier League.
It was all about Antonio Conte. He had agreed to become Chelsea’s manager before the tournament and we loved seeing his passion on the sidelines. His team played good football, he looked the part and his past record indicated he would be successful in our game.
When I watch Italy’s games at this Euros, I wonder why there is not the same buzz around their current manager and why Premier League clubs have not been doing all they can to recruit him.
We are watching one of the world's best managers in Robert Mancini at this year's Euros
I suspect some people will accuse me of bias when I talk about Roberto Mancini but my relationship with him has got nothing to do with my views. You are watching one of the world’s best managers in his prime and it baffles me why, for instance, Tottenham and Everton have not targeted him.
What separates the great managers from the good is the ability to improve a player. I remember Mancini coming into Manchester City and, by rights, he and I shouldn’t have seen eye to eye as we are completely different characters, but, almost immediately, it worked.
To play for him you have to understand his attention to detail. You have to do it as he wants because if you don’t, you won’t play. He is relentless, he challenges you mentally and a few people in our squad felt like they were being taken back to school by his methods.
Mancini changed everything at City. Training was moved to late afternoon, the way we ate at the canteen was different. He would walk around inspecting what people had on their plates, and, as someone who always ate salads, used to preach the importance of a good diet.
It baffles me why Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy (right) and Everton's owner Farhad Moshiri (left) have not targeted him as their new boss
When I watch Italy’s games at this Euros, I wonder why there is not a buzz around Mancini
He would not get involved in what you were doing outside of work but could never understand why so many people liked to have a beer. The idea of drinking like that was alien to him and you only have to see how he looks now, at 56, to appreciate how seriously he took it all.
You would see him in the gym doing sessions. He had his road bike, he would go out running. There was an ‘abs’ workout he used to do and he wasn’t afraid to do a bit of boxing training either. The only person I know who is older and in better shape is Graeme Souness, who at 68 looks a million dollars!
The desire to look impeccable mirrors Mancini’s desire for his teams to be unbeatable. If you commit to Mancini’s way and show him loyalty, he will always be there for you. He never forgets those who help him and you can see that in the make-up of Italy’s coaching staff.
It is a history lesson for me to see him standing alongside Gianluca Vialli, his old striking partner. Mancini let us all know that he was a top player in his prime — ‘where is your technique?’ he would ask you with a smile on his face — but never made himself untouchable.
When Mancini arrived at City, by rights, I shouldn’t have seen eye to eye as we are completely different characters, but, almost immediately, it worked
When I had trouble with my knee, I had to go to Italy to see a specialist.
