Italy coach Marcello Lippi is unhappy with the attitude of some towards the nation's young players.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho has lambasted both his youngsters Mario Balotelli and Davide Santon this season.

But Lippi says: "I am especially sorry for Santon, but I am not worried and will not put my beak into club affairs.

"Balotelli has great quality and I have to say I really like today's youngsters, they are children of their time.

"It is wrong to think they ought to be the same as those of 20 or 30 years ago. I don't like them being referred to as 'big babies.' If we want to discuss it, then we need to touch on all the other problems in Italian society."

He added: "We must consider that people of a certain age hold important roles and they don't want to make way or prepare for the succession to the throne.

"When in 2006 I left the Azzurri bench, I held many conferences in universities. I really enjoyed that experience with the kids, as they are young, but already mature."