Saudi Arabia's new manager, Roberto Mancini, stated, "Our goal is to win the Asian Cup in 2023."
After being unveiled in Riyadh, the Italian coach is looking forward to next year's competition.
Roberto Mancini has set his sights on winning the Asian Cup with Saudi Arabia in 2023, but emphasized that hard work is the only key to success as he expressed his satisfaction at being named the national team's new manager.
The Italian, who led his country to the 2020 European Championship, was announced as Herve Renard's replacement on Monday, having agreed to a contract extension until 2027. Mancini, 58, stepped down as manager of the Italy national team on August 13 after five years in command.
The former Sampdoria and Lazio forward will attend his first training camp with Saudi Arabia during the international break next month, when the side will face Costa Rica and South Korea in friendly in Newcastle, England. The matches serve as a warm-up for the second round of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins in November.
At a press appearance in Riyadh alongside Saudi Arabian Football Federation president Yasser Al Misehal, Mancini said: "I thank the president for choosing me as the Saudi [Arabia] manager, and I'm very proud to be here."
"I know all of the Italian players, so the next 10 days are critical for us right now." But in the last ten days, we've been watching a lot of videos on the teams and the players. We also have four friendly matches [two in October] before we begin qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, so we have plenty of time.
"We also knew about the team because we watched their games, including from [last year's 2022] World Cup, and we knew there are some talented players."
Mancini, a three-time Serie A champion as Inter Milan manager and the architect of Manchester City's first Premier League title in 2012, has been tasked not only with leading Saudi Arabia to its third consecutive global finals and seventh overall, but also with leading the country to a strong showing at the rescheduled Asian Cup.
The competition, which was originally scheduled for China this summer, has been relocated to Qatar and will take place from January 12 to February 10. Saudi Arabia, a three-time winner who has not won the continent's top prize since 1996, has been drawn in Group F alongside Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, and Oman.
"Our goal is to win the Asian Cup after 27 years," Mancini stated. "Our goal before that is four friendly matches, two World Cup qualification games [Cambodia or Pakistan, and Jordan], and then 20 days [camp] to prepare for the Asian Cup."
"We know there are many top teams, such as Japan, South Korea, and Australia, but I'm confident that if we prepare properly, we can achieve this."
