Donadoni - I won't quit

Italy boss refuses to walk away after Euro exit

Last updated: 23rd June 2008

Donadoni - I won't quit

Donadoni: Will not quit

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Italy manager Roberto Donadoni insists he has no plans to resign in the wake of the world champions' Euro 2008 elimination.

A disappointing tournament came to an end for the Azzurri on Sunday as they crashed out at the quarter-final stage following a penalty shoot-out defeat to Spain.

Donadoni - who took over from Marcello Lippi after the 2006 World Cup victory - signed a two-year contract extension just before the European Championships, but an escape clause allows the coach, or the Italian Football Federation, to terminate the deal.

And Federation president Giancarlo Abete has confirmed that Donadoni's future needs to be assessed and talks are scheduled for the next few days.

Stupid

However, Donadoni insists he will not quit, saying: "I don't see why I should resign. That would seem excessive.

"Absolutely not. I don't see why decisions like this should be made if a game is won or lost on penalties. It seems like stupid reasoning."

Donadoni has also dismissed speculation that Abete's tight-lipped approach to impending discussions suggests the outlook is bleak.

"I think the fact that he (Abete) doesn't say much might be part of his character, which is similar to my own," Donadoni added.

"I don't want to force anyone's hand. That's not the way I think. I'm moving forward serenely. We'll see over the next 10 days. It's useless to make calculations."