Speaking at Coverciano ahead of Italy's Nations League opener against Belgium on Friday, Roberto Mancini used his first press conference since returning to the role to address the frustration of a fanbase that has watched the Azzurri miss the last three World Cups.
He told reporters, "I feel indebted, I want to win back those who feel betrayed: I want to win. If a fan feels betrayed, they can get angry. It's understandable. To win them back, we have to do things right and return the national team to the place it deserves."
He set out his ambitions for the four years ahead.
"I'm sure we'll achieve something in the next four years. I never start out to lose. I start out wanting a team that dominates, that plays well and always gives its maximum.
"You can't always win, but we will go out to do it. When I came back, I was very happy. We've been through some really nice moments together."
This is Mancini's third spell in charge of the national team. He first took over in May 2018 after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia, and led the side to victory at Euro 2020 and a 35-match unbeaten run before stepping down in 2023, taking charge of Saudi Arabia soon after.
Italy have missed the past three World Cups, and Mancini's new spell begins straight into competitive fixtures without the cushion of a friendly to prepare his squad, which he said means he needs to quickly understand which players he can count on.