GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
After many years of steady progress on and off the pitch, Roma find themselves back at square one following a dismal season, which saw changes in the squad, head coach and sporting director.
For the first time in six years, Roma failed to finish in the Champions League places, meaning even more changes are set to take place this summer. Missing out on qualifying for the competition is a huge blow to the club's finances, meaning key players are likely to be sold, and with no clear sign of who is going to take over as the next coach, the situation is becoming more complicated by the day. Here, Giallorossi Yorkshire takes a look at what happened in the summer after the last time Roma finished sixth (in 2012-13), to see if that can give any insight into how the club might set about their rebuild this time around. The managerial situation Just like this season, Roma's last majorly disappointing year ended with a caretaker manager in charge. Aurelio Andreazzoli, long-time assistant at the club, had replaced Zdenek Zeman on an interim basis in February, but like Claudio Ranieri this year, wasn't given the role full-time. Instead, Roma's leadership looked abroad. Lille coach Rudi Garcia was appointed as the new head coach, despite having never played or coached in Italy before. Garcia had led Lille to the Ligue 1 and Coupe De France double in 2010-11, with the league title being their first since the 1950s. However, his final season in charge had seen the French side finish 6th, just like the club he was joining. It was a somewhat left-field appointment, a calculated gamble, but it almost had the desired effect. Under Garcia, Roma won their first 10 Serie A matches, setting a new league record. However, the momentum was lost towards the end of the season, and Roma finished runners up to Juventus. In the short-term, Garcia gave Roma the breath of fresh air they needed, but he could never quite recapture that original magic thereafter. Perhaps Roma will pick out a foreign manager again this time. Could it be Paulo Fonseca from Shakhtar in Ukraine, or Pepe Bordalas from Getafe in Spain? The sales Several big names were sold following the failure to qualify for the Champions League. The most expensive departures were Erik Lamela for €30m and Marquinhos for €35m, two young South Americans who had blossomed at Roma and moved on to bigger things. Another significant departure was that of Dani Osvaldo, who moved to Southampton after two seasons with Roma, in both of which he was top scorer. Fellow attacker Bojan Krkic, who had spent the year out on loan at Milan, was bought back by Barcelona. In addition, goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and midfielder Panagiotis Tachtisidis were moved on for small sums, while the squad was hit with the retirement of a legendary midfielder in Simone Perrotta - similar to how Roma are losing Daniele De Rossi now. Of course, Roma can expect to sell big names this summer, too. Kostas Manolas and Cengiz Under are probably the most likely candidates. They are the Marquinhos and Lamela of this team, in a way - two talents, a defender and a winger, who were given a platform by this club and can be sold on for a big profit. The Osvaldo to leave will likely be Edin Dzeko, who has not matched his standards of the past two seasons, and has been linked with PSG and Inter Milan. Dzeko's former Manchester City teammate, Aleksandar Kolarov, could also leave, with a return to boyhood club Red Star mooted. The signings In light of all the departures, some major signings were needed, and Roma ended up bringing 13 players to the club. Three of those - Gianluca Caprari, Giammario Piscitella and Valerio Verre - were returning after loans or co-ownerships, although the latter two were sold on straight away. The signings were a mix of talents picked from smaller Serie A clubs, and exciting arrivals from overseas. To replace Marquinhos, Mehdi Benatia was brought in from Udinese (who had finished fifth), while Lamela's departure was accounted for by the signings of Adem Ljajic and Gervinho - the latter having been part of the side that had won Ligue 1 under Garcia at Lille. The most expensive purchase was Kevin Strootman, a 23-year-old Dutch midfielder arriving from PSV. At the other end of the scale, the cheapest addition was Maicon, who joined on a free from Man City. Mattia Destro came in from Genoa, after top scoring on loan at Siena, while Morgan De Sanctis came in as the new first choice goalkeeper. How might a similar scenario play out this year? One defender who has been linked with the club is Gianluca Mancini. Like Udinese in 2013, Atalanta finished above Roma this year, and the Giallorossi could take one of their most important components to restore the natural order. The identity of the next coach is unclear, but perhaps he too will be reunited with a former player, who can become Garcia's Gervinho. Will Roma look at free agents like they did with Maicon? A number of decent players will be available for nothing this summer: Fernando Llorente has been linked as a replacement for Edin Dzeko, for example. The young potential In 2013, Roma also added some younger players, like Tin Jedvaj and Lukasz Skorupski, to freshen up the roster. This year, Banfield's Agustin Urzi has been linked, a 19-year-old Argentine winger. Players from the club's own youth ranks were also given bigger roles in the first team, such as defender Alessio Romagnoli, and, to a lesser extent, winger Federico Ricci. Will Roma supplement their squad next season with the talents of midfielder Alessio Riccardi, striker Zan Celar, or winger Gianmarco Cangiano, for example? Or perhaps a former youth player will be brought back, like Caprari was - Davide Frattesi, who was sold to Sassuolo in 2017, has been linked with a return after impressing on loan at Ascoli this year, and Luca Pellegrini can come back from his loan at Cagliari with renewed optimism of breaking into the Roma first team. The results As mentioned above, the changes Roma made had an immediate positive effect. The season ended with a second place finish in the league and a run to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia, where they lost on aggregate to Napoli despite a first leg win. Several of the new signings strengthened the side, with Benatia, Gervinho, Destro, Skorupski and Strootman all being sold for profit in the future. Destro was Roma's top scorer in his debut year, Strootman was magnificent, and De Sanctis became a reliable number one. Even some of the outgoings worked in Roma's favour. Lamela has been injury prone at Tottenham Hotspur, Stekelenburg has never really played regularly since leaving, and Osvaldo, most bizarrely of all, has quit football altogether to become a musician. Despite all the turbulence, things worked out well in the end - at least in the short-term. So, even though the picture remains unclear in the present day, perhaps there is hope that Roma can recover next year, and return to where they should be. The big decisions must be made now.
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It was supposed to be the glorious homecoming. The pinnacle of the history of a club. Competing in their first ever European Cup final, in front of their own fans.
On May 30th, 1984, Roma contested their first - and, to date, only - European Cup final, taking on Liverpool at Stadio Olimpico. It was the opportunity for the greatest side in the club's history to establish themselves as world beaters. Several of the players were already known to the world - Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani were World Cup winners, Falcao a star with Brazil - but this was their chance to put Roma at the forefront of the European landscape. Everything seemed to be lined up well. A year on from winning their second Scudetto, Roma had beaten IFK Goteborg, CSKA Sofia, Dynamo Berlin and Dundee United to book their place in the final, to be contested at their home ground. This was a Roma team consisting of stars, some of the best players to ever pull on the Giallorossi shirt. The game did not start at a break-neck pace. The intense atmosphere of the Roman crowd was not matched on the pitch for the first 10 minutes, and it was the English side - officially the 'home' team despite the location - who took the lead. Roma keeper Franco Tancredi tried to claim a cross, but was bundled off the ball, before Phil Neal expertly found the gap between the diving Roma defenders to put the Reds in front. In the modern day, it would probably have been given as a foul on the keeper, and even at the time, the Roma faithful were aggrieved at the decision to let the goal stand. But they couldn't think about it too long. This was a final long before the days of VAR. There was a game to be won, and plenty of time to achieve it in. Roma started to find a rhythm in the game, with inspirational captain Agostino Di Bartolomei pinging beautifully-struck long-range passes across the field. Little did he know that it would be one of his last games for the club, who he had represented so gracefully for over a decade. It hadn't crossed his mind that it would have been a fitting end to his Roma career to go out with the European Cup trophy; ever the professional, Di Bartolomei just wanted to win for the sake of winning, as normal. Alongside him in midfield, Brazilian duo Falcao and Toninho Cerezo were starting to get involved as well. The only two foreigners in Roma's lineup, both had an excellent range of passing and desire to get forward, where they would link up with attacking midfielder Conti. The number seven played with freedom in the first half, taking most of the corners and trying to test Bruce Grobbelaar in the Liverpool goal. And, as half-time approached, Conti made his most decisive contribution yet. The momentum had been swinging in Roma's favour, and they got the equaliser they deserved three minutes before the break. Conti shrugged off the defender to play a cross in with his weaker right foot, and Roberto Pruzzo was there in the middle to finish with a swooping header. It was a marvelous piece of technique from 'Il Bomber', who managed to put a significant amount of power and placement on the header, despite his low position. The Italian had not had many opportunities before that - strike partner Graziani was seeing more of the ball - but he reminded the fans just why he was so highly regarded with the great finish. Roma were rallied by the goal; Liverpool were rattled. It is often said in football that there are few better times to score than just before half-time. In this instance, perhaps Roma could have benefited from scoring about five minutes earlier than they did. They were really putting pressure on Liverpool after drawing level, and maybe with a few more minutes, they could have got a second before the half-time whistle. Despite their best efforts, a second goal never came - neither before, nor after the break. The second half followed a similar pattern, with both sides figuring each other out tactically. Neither keeper had too many saves to make, but the battle was intriguing nonetheless. Sebino Nela was having an influence down the left-hand side, bombing on from his full-back position and putting in some good crosses. Roma were winning free kicks in dangerous areas, but weren't making the most of them. Their approach became a little too predictable; Conti would roll the ball to Di Bartolomei, who would shoot from distance. Liverpool were thwarting most of the chances. Roma's hopes of winning took a downturn when Pruzzo was forced off injured. Odoacre Chierico replaced him, prompting a tactical reshuffle, but with the thought of extra time and penalties looming, Nils Liedholm knew he had lost one of his best options from the spot. Pruzzo was a clinical penalty taker, but he would unfortunately not be there for the shootout, when his team needed him most. As we all know, that is how the game was decided. During an extra time period which fatigued the players - Dario Bonetti and Cerezo both suffering from bouts of cramp - the tension was palpable. Penalties were on the horizon, and as unfair a way as it is to lose, it really was the only way the two sides could be separated. The shootout was to be conducted under the Curva Sud, Roma's fans urging their side on. How romantic a scene it would be if Roma could emerge victorious. Liverpool went first, and when Steve Nicol blazed his effort over the bar, there was an immediate sense of relief, anticipation and hope. Di Bartolomei tucked his penalty coolly away down the middle (with his last ever kick in a Roma shirt), and it looked like the initiative was with the Giallorossi. Very quickly, though, things turned back in Liverpool's favour. After Neal had converted his spot kick for Liverpool, Conti repeated what Nicol had done, skying his shot over the bar. It was an unexpected miss from someone blessed with such good quality and technique, who had had a positive impact on the game in normal time. Things were all square again. Graeme Souness, Ubaldo Righetti and Ian Rush all scored their penalties, leaving a tired Graziani to take next. His focus was interrupted by the now infamous scene of Grobbelaar wobbling his legs, getting in the head of his opponent. Like Conti before him, Graziani missed the target. The decisive penalty fell to Alan Kennedy, and the Reds full-back made no mistake, breaking the hearts of the thousands of Romanisti in the Stadio. Roma had achieved so much under Liedholm, and had fought their way to a top position among the European elite. But even with the backing of their own home crowd, they couldn't quite get over the line. Who knows if it would have made a difference had Pruzzo stayed fit for the whole game? The striker would certainly have taken a penalty, and most likely scored, but would it really have been instead of one of the two who missed? It's a story that we'll never know, in the same way that the opposition's fans now wonder how last year's Champions League final may have turned out differently without the absence of ex-Roma winger Mohamed Salah. To lose one of your key players in the biggest game of their life is a hammer blow. But despite Roma's narrow defeat, the legacy of that team lives on. Most of those players have earned their place in club history, with seven of the starting XI having been inducted into the Roma Hall of Fame. Few would argue against the notion that that side was the best the club has ever assembled, arguably even better than the squad which last won Serie A under Fabio Capello in 2001. Wherever they ranked, though, they had become a huge part of the fabric of the club. Outside of Italy, only a few of the names from that Roma lineup have been remembered long-term. Falcao and Conti are probably the most well-known, but even legends like Di Bartolomei and Pruzzo are hardly household names worldwide. Had Roma been victorious that warm May night, then perhaps they would have become global icons, getting the recognition they deserved. Roma may never have the chance to compete in a Champions League final again, especially one on their home turf. Even if they came close last year, that side of the 1980s far eclipsed the achievements of many of the Giallorossi sides that have followed. Therefore, for Roma, May 30th, 1984, will always remain a date synonymous with the phrase, 'What might have been...' Captain Daniele De Rossi will pull on the Roma shirt for one last time on Sunday night, as the season comes to a close with a home match against Parma.
It will be the last appearance of De Rossi's 18-year spell with his hometown club, a period which has seen him play more times for Roma than any player other than Francesco Totti. The 35-year-old will be starting the game, as confirmed by head coach Claudio Ranieri - also overseeing his last game with the club. Both have been big characters for Roma this season, and the squad will be looking to give them a fitting send-off. With the Stadio Olimpico sold out for the occasion, fans can expect an emotional atmosphere as the curtain closes on De Rossi's time playing for Roma. And with little to play for - it would take an extraordinary turn of events for the Lupi to qualify for the Champions League - all the attentions should be focused on celebrating the career and commitment of the club captain. Roma's squad is virtually at full strength, with Kostas Manolas still doubtful after missing last weekend's draw with Sassuolo. The visitors have a slightly longer injury list, which includes former Roma forward Gervinho. The Giallorossi are looking for a first final day win in four attempts, but they do have the opportunity to make it nine games unbeaten at the end of the season - better than any run of form Ranieri's predecessor Eusebio Di Francesco managed in his time at the club. The game kicks off at 7:30pm BST, coinciding with the matches involving Atalanta, Inter and AC Milan. However, Roma's match will not be shown on TV in the UK.
As Roma prepare for one legend's final game on Sunday, with Daniele De Rossi set for an emotional departure, there is another huge Romanista who will be overseeing his last game for the club.
Claudio Ranieri's second spell in charge of Roma may have lasted only 12 games, but in that time, he has led a minor transformation, which has nearly seen the club sneak into the Champions League places. Alas, that dream looks virtually impossible now - even if the man himself retains a glimmer of hope - but that should not undermine the work Ranieri has done. When the 67-year-old took charge of his hometown club for a second time, Roma were at one of their lowest ebbs under the American ownership. They had just been dumped out of the Champions League by Porto - not embarrassingly, but in a naive, frustrating manner - coming days after a 3-0 loss to bitter rivals Lazio. The team looked devoid of confidence and ideas. All optimism was gone. Eusebio Di Francesco was removed from his post as head coach, kick-starting a turbulent 48 hours which also saw the resignation of sporting director Monchi. It would require a brave man to take up the reins. The club had not been under this much scrutiny by its fans for a long time, and they were in desperate need of someone who could get them onside again. In Claudio Ranieri, they couldn't have asked for a better man. Rome-born and a big Roma fan, Ranieri would relish the opportunity to coach his beloved team once again. From the outset, he made it clear that he was only focusing on the 12 remaining games and nothing thereafter, but in the process, he unearthed a sense of unity that had been missing for months, even years. Di Francesco had been divisive - his supporters pointed to when he masterminded Roma's comeback victory against Barcelona in the Champions League, but his critics observed a lack of flexibility in his tactics. His own predecessor, Luciano Spalletti, similarly split the fanbase - he guided Roma to a record points total, but treated club legend Francesco Totti in an ungracious manner in his final seasons as a player. But in Ranieri, Roma found someone that, albeit temporarily, everyone could get behind. His optimistic personality made him an instantly likeable character. He had achieved great things with Roma before - being the last man to really lead them close to the title, although Spalletti wasn't far away either - but this time, his reign would be different. Yes, in both his spells, he took charge during a time of chaos, but in his second stint as Roma's coach, he knew he would only have a short time to work with the players. Deep down, he knew he would be leaving once the 12 games were over. Ranieri had a lot of problems to deal with - a leaky defence and a struggling goalkeeper to name but two - but he immediately set to work to make Roma hard to beat again. That was the crucial first step. Some fans may have been longing for free-flowing attacking football, but at that moment in time, Roma needed to go back to basics. Step by step, they could rebuild. Under Ranieri, Roma have been much more compact and hard to break down. They have only conceded more than two goals in a game once, in a loss to Napoli which is one of the only blots on Ranieri's record. After that game, the caretaker coach made a bold decision, dropping Robin Olsen and putting veteran keeper Antonio Mirante between the sticks. Instantly, it paid off. Roma have kept five clean sheets from the eight games since Mirante usurped the Swede as number one. All of a sudden, Roma's distant dreams of reaching the Champions League looked a possibility again. They were grinding out good results against difficult opponents - a win over Sampdoria, a draw against Inter. Roma had worked their way back into contention for a top four place, somewhere they hadn't been all season. Unfortunately, it appears to have been too little, too late. Even with an impressive 2-0 win over champions Juventus, some costly draws against smaller teams look to have proven fatal. But that's no real fault of Ranieri's. Without him, Roma might have been a lot further away. He did enough in his few games to become a genuine candidate for the club's next permanent manager, yet he remained humble all the way through. When Antonio Conte was linked with the club, Ranieri offered to drive him from the airport, so that Roma would have a high-calibre coach. What Ranieri didn't realise, even when Conte declared he wasn't interested in the job, was that he himself was one of the best men Roma could have chosen. For Ranieri, it has always been about the team first. His approach has been completely selfless, but strong. In turn, the atmosphere around the team has improved. Players like Steven Nzonzi and Federico Fazio have played much better under his leadership, and consequently, the side have performed as a more effective unit, greater than the sum of their individual parts. The league table will tell a story that not much has changed since Ranieri returned. Before he arrived, Roma were in fifth, three points off the top four. Going into the final matchday, they are sixth, still three points off the pace. But that story does not paint the full picture. Ranieri restored a spark of belief that Roma's dreams might have been possible again. Thanks to him, they were looking up the table again, rather than down it. It will be a sad day for many reasons on Sunday, as De Rossi bids farewell to the only shirt he has known in his career. But Ranieri should also be given the send-off he deserves. He has been a noble father figure, leading the way as the man to remind everyone what it means to love Roma. What an honourable person he is.
Roma's outside chances of reaching the top four all-but disappeared with a frustrating 0-0 draw at Sassuolo.
A win would have seen Roma set up an exciting last day of the season, but now it looks extremely unlikely that they can qualify for next season's Champions League. Truth be told, Roma could have played all day without scoring - although Federico Fazio did have the ball in the back of the net late on, with the goal ruled out for an offside in the buildup. Here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings from the game. Antonio Mirante - 7 One of the few names who will avoid criticism when the season is over. Mirante has added stability since coming into the team, and made an impressive save with his feet to deny Filip Djuricic in the first half. Alessandro Florenzi - 6 Lost his individual battle with Sassuolo winger Jeremie Boga, who got past him too easily many times. However, Florenzi looked a little sharper going forward, even if the chance he created for Stephan El Shaarawy came from two miskicks. Federico Fazio - 7 Shifted over to the right side of the centre-back duo in the absence of Kostas Manolas, Fazio read the game well, apart from the one lapse in concentration that led to the Djuricic chance that Mirante thwarted. Fazio can be a danger man as an emergency forward when things aren't going to plan, and he nearly was again, showing good technique for his disallowed goal. He's increasingly becoming one of the leaders of this squad. Juan Jesus - 7 Jesus is always a competent replacement when Roma are missing one of their regular centre-backs. He won some headers and was confident enough in possession. Aleksandar Kolarov - 6 Kept Domenico Berardi reasonably quiet, but offered little going forward and some of his crosses were not accurate enough. Steven Nzonzi - 7 In last week's win over Juventus, Nzonzi was the best outfield player for Roma, and while he didn't quite reach those standards in Reggio Emilia, he was one of the better performers again. He made good blocks and tackles, and also showed his strength in the air. Bryan Cristante - 7.5 Perhaps motivated by Daniele De Rossi's comments in the week that he is a model professional and a player that Roma should build around, Cristante had one of his best games for the club. He was a midfield enforcer, breaking up play and starting attacks with his passing. He also came close to a goal, when his header was pushed away by Andrea Consigli. Roma's best player on the night. Cengiz Under - 5 Had the first shot of the match, but faded after that. Last week, his impact from the bench helped unlock the game against Juventus, but making his first start in three games, he was less effective. Nicolo Zaniolo - 5 Saw a fair share of the ball again, but struggled with limited space. As should have been expected, the experimentation of playing him in different positions has not done him much good, as even playing in his preferred role, he struggled. The end of the season can't come soon enough for Roma's young starlet, who looks fatigued and needs to recharge his batteries. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7 The most confident of the three attacking midfielders, El Shaarawy got into good positions and showcased his dribbling ability. The one downside was the chance he missed after being inadvertently set up by Florenzi - given his scoring form this season, he should have done better with his volley, which fell just wide of the post. Edin Dzeko - 5 Like Zaniolo, Dzeko needs this season to end. It has been far more resemblant of his nightmare first season with Roma than his impressive last two. He was caught offside far too many times, perhaps a sign of laziness. His one memorable shot was a pointless left-footed effort which caused no problems whatsoever for Consigli. Subs: Javier Pastore If there's any consolation fans can take from Pastore's 25-minute cameo, it's that it was probably his last appearance for the club. The flop of the season continued in the same way he has gone all year, not adapting to the pace of the game. His concentration was off and so was his quality. Justin Kluivert Brought on at the same time as Pastore, he didn't fare much better. To a lesser extent, the winger has also not lived up to his reputation this season, but maybe he was always overhyped due to the name on his back. He went close to scoring, but failed to realise where the ball was, in what should have been an easy chance. Diego Perotti Brought on too late to have an impact; should have come on earlier instead of Pastore. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 6 Tried not to tinker too much with a winning formula from last week, and released Zaniolo into a position in which he should have thrived, so Ranieri can't take too much responsibility for the players' failure to perform. However, his decision to bring on someone who has been as ineffectual as Pastore was a bad call. Sentiment aside, even De Rossi would have been a better option. While the two holding midfielders did well for Roma, De Rossi adds something that they don't - a drive from deep that encourages those ahead of him to push on. Instead, the attackers lacked motivation and quality. Nonetheless, Ranieri can only work with what is available to him, and it cannot be denied that he has given his all for his beloved club in his brief time in charge. Roma’s final away game of the season sees them travel to Reggio Emilia to face Sassuolo on Saturday night.
Following on from last week’s impressive win over champions Juventus, Roma will be eager to extend their unbeaten run. However, they haven’t won an away game in over a month, with draws against Inter and Genoa - a record they will need to change if they want to keep within touching distance of the top four. This weekend could be the one to see momentum swing back in Roma’s favour in the hunt, with third place Inter facing second place Napoli, and fourth place Atalanta facing Juventus tomorrow. It’s very plausible that both the teams Roma are trying to catch could lose, so Claudio Ranieri’s side must take advantage and try to cut the gap. The interim coach has all but one of his first team squad available for the trip, with Kostas Manolas the only absentee, through injury. Juan Jesus should take his place alongside Federico Fazio at centre-back. Following news of the decision not to extend Daniele De Rossi’s contract, the captain could be brought into the side, even as a substitute. Ranieri confirmed that the veteran has been training well despite the news, telling reporters: “De Rossi seems motivated and focused as he always is. I would expect he is not sleeping well right now but that is to be expected - news like this is a shock. He is someone who has given everything, even when not fully fit, for the team he loves." It will be Ranieri’s first time coaching against Sassuolo, whom Roma remain undefeated against in 11 meetings. That record simply must continue if the Giallorossi are to keep their Champions League hopes alive. The game kicks off at 7:30pm, and will be broadcast live in the UK on Premier Sports 2.
Next season will be the first in nearly 20 years in which Daniele De Rossi will not be playing for AS Roma.
The club's decision not to renew the captain's contract was announced on Tuesday, coming as a major shock to the fans who thought he still had a lot to contribute to the team despite his increasing years. When fit this season, De Rossi has been one of Roma's best players. Arguably only Stephan El Shaarawy has been more consistent on the pitch, but he hasn't had the inconvenience of seeing his season disrupted by a series of injuries. Had De Rossi been physically capable of making 10 more starts than he has, then perhaps he would be the one taking the player of the season plaudits. In a summer in which plenty of change is expected in the Roma squad, it doesn't seem right that the one ever-dependable presence is being shown the door. For the majority of the 21st century, De Rossi has been Roma's bedrock, the gladiator that held the whole thing together by putting the side's needs before his own. The number of players that have shared a changing room with De Rossi will reach into the hundreds, but thanks to his fierce loyalty and imperious ability, Daniele has always been there. By now, Roma fans are used to seeing change. Rarely is an entire team stripped away, but every summer will see at least one major departure. Through thick and thin, despite offers of higher wages, better football and more trophies, De Rossi has never been that man to leave. As supporters looked ahead to a new season with no clear picture of what the team would look like, they at least knew their bandiera would be there. This summer, they can't even say that. The decision not to offer De Rossi a contract extension has not been handled well. Much of the blame has been directed at recently-appointed CEO Guido Fienga, who only informed De Rossi of the decision on Monday - citing the club's bad season as the reason that their captain's situation had fallen to the back of their minds. Likewise, De Rossi hinted in his press conference that he had not even spoken to club president James Pallotta about the decision - something which will do little to repair the ever-faltering relationship between the American entrepreneur and the Giallorossi faithful. But De Rossi himself knew this day was coming. He openly admitted that, having not received any phone calls from the Roma directors, he could infer that the club were not intending to prolong his stay. Still, it doesn't sit right that, after so many years of loyalty, he should have to work out his future by intuition, and not by being told. This is nothing new with Roma though. Just two years ago, Francesco Totti was effectively forced into retirement in a similar situation. The difference was, fans were made aware at the beginning of Totti's last season that it would be his final campaign in giallorosso. The news about De Rossi has been revealed with just two games left on his contract. Even before that, under previous regimes, Roma's other most iconic captain, Agostino Di Bartolomei, had been pushed out of the club in 1984. Throughout history, Roma's legends do not seem to get the farewells they deserve. Nor can De Rossi escape that fate. He too will leave the club when he was eager to continue playing. But whether the decision was right or wrong - and it's easier, and more appropriate, to lean towards the latter - the timing seems somewhat suitable. Yes, it would have been nice to have known that this was De Rossi's last season from the start, as was the case with Totti. But recent outings have shown that there are willing candidates ready to pick up the baton. Last weekend, with De Rossi on the bench, Alessandro Florenzi wore the captain's armband. Against Juventus, the right-back led by example, avoiding getting drawn into a petty psychological battle with Cristiano Ronaldo, and scoring the goal that set Roma on their way to victory. Florenzi is sometimes criticised by his own fans, but he proved in that match, as he has in many others, that he is fuelled by the same Roman passion as De Rossi. Grinta is as big a part of his game as technical quality, but the latter hasn't abandoned him fully. Florenzi still possesses the required elements to take over. He is not as good a footballer as De Rossi, something he would probably confess himself. But Florenzi is Romanista. De Rossi himself personally praised Florenzi, stating that the essence of Romanismo is in good hands. At 28 years old, Florenzi is stepping up at the right time. Along with Florenzi, De Rossi also pointed towards Lorenzo Pellegrini, a man who must be given more responsibility following the captain's departure. A player who has often lined up alongside De Rossi in the Giallorossi midfield, the 22-year-old has gone on record to say that he would like to follow in his teammate's footsteps and become the club captain one day. To keep the spirit of Romanismo alive, Pellegrini must be entrusted as a torch-bearer. The club must provide him the foundations to achieve that dream upon. Pellegrini's career path could well emulate De Rossi's. Already admired by big European clubs, such as Manchester United, and Italian rivals like Inter Milan, Pellegrini will have no shortage of offers to leave the club as he continues to develop - just as De Rossi did. The hope remains that Pellegrini will be allowed to follow a similar path and turn down those propositions, to stay at his beloved club and grow into a leader. As long as Roma stay in a healthy financial position, keeping Pellegrini ought to be a priority. In fact, Pellegrini's faith in the project should be rewarded immediately. The club ought to seriously consider promoting him to the role of vice captain once De Rossi departs, to keep passion for Roma at the heart of the team. Players like Edin Dzeko and Kostas Manolas may be more experienced, but there is an ethos that needs protecting, and a future leader that needs to be nurtured. Pellegrini has shown enough this season to suggest that he can emulate his heroes, and to maintain the strong Roman spirit of the squad, he deserves to be fast-tracked to a role of greater responsibility. Of course, the team must come first, and it may be the case that it is in its best interests if less Romans are involved. But if the right people have the right quality, then they should be allowed to thrive. Because with the departure of De Rossi, Roma will lose something more than just a player. They will lose a symbol that defines the club. It cannot be avoided, though, that there is a future that Roma needs to emerge into. Removing De Rossi is a controversial decision, and one that has perhaps not been made by people who fully understand football, but it is one that he has graciously accepted. While Roma will not be the same without him, they must trust what symbols of the club they have left. A humble character like De Rossi would want to give faith to those who can continue the tradition, and that means more responsibility for those who have learnt from him. Next year will be a strange season. For many fans, it will be their first experience of a Roma side without Totti or De Rossi. But against all the odds, Romanismo will not go down without a fight. Florenzi and Pellegrini will be there to build on the immense foundations that have been built for them by their seniors. The pain of De Rossi's exit will take a long time to diminish, but he would want all the focus to be on the team. A team that he should have been a part of, yes, but a team that, if molded around the right people, can build on the legacy he has provided. And so the baton is passed. Who knows what this new era for Roma will look like? But with Florenzi and Pellegrini at the core, then no matter what the people above try to do, there is still hope for the principles of the foundation to be carried on.
Roma became just the third side to beat Juventus in Serie A this season on Sunday night with a well-deserved 2-0 win.
It's the first time Roma have beaten the Italian champions in their last four meetings, and it was a win to savour, with Alessandro Florenzi and Edin Dzeko getting the goals late on to extend Roma's unbeaten run to seven games. Here are the Giallorossi Yorkshire player ratings from the match. Antonio Mirante - 8 Where would Roma be if Mirante had been brought into the side much sooner in the season? The veteran goalkeeper put in arguably his best performance of the season to deny the club he came through the youth ranks at, 15 years ago. Mirante pulled off a number of impressive saves, getting strong hands to a shot from Juan Cuadrado at the end of a counter attack, and making two fine stops from Paulo Dybala efforts in the first half alone. Alessandro Florenzi - 7 Taunted by Cristiano Ronaldo for being small, Roma's stand-in captain had the last laugh by scoring the goal that set Roma on their way to victory. He looked like the Florenzi of old, driving forward with his passion and commitment, making the occasional mistake, but showing the hunger to overcome it. His goal was a fine finish over Wojciech Szczesny, and his celebration under the Curva Sud served as a reminder that Florenzi can still be a hero for this team. Kostas Manolas - 7.5 Roma knew they would have to absorb some pressure from Juventus, and their centre-back partnership played their part in keeping the visitors at bay. Manolas made a couple of good blocks and looked more like a leader than he has been recently. He raised his game when his side needed him most. Federico Fazio - 8 Fazio was an equally important part of the backline, and was also a significant presence going forward. The Argentine started some attacks with his confident dribbling out from the back, always looking to get involved. At his peak - which he was against Juve - he can still be the beating heart of Roma's defence. Aleksandar Kolarov - 7 His poor form in the middle of the season seems to have been put behind him for good now. Kolarov, like his opposite full-back Florenzi, wasn't afraid to get forward, helping Roma to make the most of counter attacks. He also limited the involvement of Juve winger Juan Cuadrado. A consummate professional. Steven Nzonzi - 8 Mirante may take the man of the match award, but Nzonzi was possibly Roma's best outfield player. The Frenchman was a combative presence, making crunching tackles that allowed Roma to play on the break. Nzonzi seemed to be alert to any threat that Juventus were posing, and snuffed out as much of the danger as possible. Lorenzo Pellegrini - 6 It was another below par performance from Pellegrini, who has not been quite the same since returning from injury. Once again, he was the first man to be brought off, with his only major contributions being a couple of crosses into the box and a decent left-footed effort which nearly caught Szczesny out. Nicolo Zaniolo - 5.5 Restored to a more central role in a midfield three, Zaniolo wasn't really up to speed with the pace of the game. His involvement was minimal, and he made a couple of sloppy passes. Maybe he was affected by playing against the team he supports. It leaves Roma with a lot to think about in terms of how they can get the best out of him again. Justin Kluivert - 6 With his pace, Kluivert was a positive outlet for Roma, but his decision making often let him down. The 20-year-old saw plenty of the ball, but didn't really convert that possession into chances, sometimes giving it away in dangerous areas. Edin Dzeko - 7 After going through the first half almost as a passenger, Dzeko stepped it up in the second half, ending with a goal and an assist. His goal, coming at the end of a counter attacking move, was a confident finish, showing signs of the player that Roma came to rely on in his more successful seasons. The assist for Florenzi's goal was also well executed. Stephan El Shaarawy - 7 A marauding presence up and down the left wing, El Shaarawy played like someone full of confidence. And so he should be, given his decisive contributions in recent weeks. He forced Szczesny into a good save with a long-range effort in the second half after reacting to his own misplaced pass. Subs: Bryan Cristante - 5 Wasn't particularly noticeable after replacing Pellegrini. Cengiz Under - 7 Even though he was only on the pitch for 12 minutes, Under changed the game. He showed good footwork when he played the ball to Florenzi before the Roman's one-two with Dzeko for the opener, and claimed the assist for Dzeko's goal with some speedy dribbling and a perfectly placed pass. When fully fit, he needs to be the starter. Coach: Claudio Ranieri - 8 Set his side up with the perfect balance. Roma's approach was pragmatic and effective, as they soaked up the pressure in the first half, frustrating their rivals, and were braver and more clinical in the second period. His substitution of Under for Kluivert was a big turning point in the game, given the impact that the Turk had. Roma face Juventus on Sunday night in their penultimate home game of the season, almost two years to the day since their last victory over the Old Lady.
Stephan El Shaarawy was among the goalscorers when Roma came from behind to beat Juventus 3-1 on 14th May 2017, and if anyone is going to inspire the Giallorossi to a victory against their rivals tomorrow, then it will more than likely be him. With 11 goals from 25 Serie A games, El Shaarawy is Roma's leading scorer this season, having found the net once again in the draw with Genoa last weekend. Roma will be looking to bounce back from that disappointment, but they can take some positivity from the fact that they have now gone six games unbeaten - their best run of the whole season. Playing the reigning champions may not be the easiest way to keep that run going, but Roma know they cannot afford to drop any more points in their hunt for Champions League qualification. With Atalanta beating Genoa on Saturday, Roma will be doing all they can to keep pace with Gian Piero Gasperini's side. For once, Claudio Ranieri has virtually a full complement of players available. Daniele De Rossi is able to return to the squad, and his presence could prove vital to Roma's chances of upsetting Cristiano Ronaldo and co. In contrast, Juventus's squad is heavily depleted, with Alex Sandro, Douglas Costa, Moise Kean and Leonardo Bonucci just a handful of those who are injured, and Federico Bernardeschi suspended. It's never easy against Juventus, but this is a time of the season where Roma must forget about the level of the opponent and do everything they can to win. With the number of absences affecting Max Allegri's side, maybe the Lupi will take some confidence of getting a result, which could be critical to their chances of reaching the top four. The game kicks off at 7:30pm UK time and will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.
Sunday evening pits Roma and Juventus against each other in a Serie A clash that is critical to the Giallorossi's fading chances of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
The rivalry between the two clubs stretches far back, but that hasn't stopped some players crossing the boundaries and representing both teams. Here are 10 players who did just that in their careers. Miralem Pjanic For many fans, Pjanic's departure to Juventus is still a bitter pill to swallow. After five seasons at Stadio Olimpico, with more than 150 appearances, the Bosnian midfielder handed in a transfer request, and even paid some of his own release clause so that he could complete a transfer to Roma's rivals. Since moving north to Turin, he has won three consecutive Serie A titles. Mirko Vucinic Another player who left Roma after half a decade of service, forward Vucinic moved to Juventus for €15m in 2011. Before that, he had been part of Luciano Spalletti's successful Roma side of the mid-2000s, winning the Coppa Italia twice and the Supercoppa Italiana once. With Juventus, he was part of the first three successes of their current streak of eight consecutive league titles. Emerson The Brazilian midfielder was involved in Roma's last Scudetto success, after joining in 2000. After three more seasons in the capital, Emerson followed departing manager Fabio Capello to Juventus in 2004. His two seasons at Juventus saw back-to-back Serie A victories - but both titles were stripped in the wake of the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. Matteo Brighi Brighi joined Juventus as a teenager with a lot of promise in 1999. However, it was only really after he joined Roma in 2004 (following a spell with Parma) that he began to realise that potential - to an extent. He spent the first three years of his time with Roma out on loan, but when he returned in 2007, he became a more regular fixture under Spalletti, coming on as a substitute in the 2007 Supercoppa and 2008 Coppa final, in both of which Roma were victorious. Jonathan Zebina Another player who was involved in Roma's Serie A triumph of 2001, French defender Zebina made 123 appearances in red and yellow, before trading the capital for Turin in 2004, following Capello and Emerson north. At Juventus, he was sometimes criticised for inconsistency, but still lasted there until 2010, staying with them for their period in Serie B. Zbigniew Boniek Boniek's Italian adventure began with Juventus in 1982, with whom he won Serie A, the Coppa Italia, the European Cup, the Super Cup, and the European Cup Winners' Cup once each. In 1985, the midfielder moved to Roma, and his experience helped the Giallorossi to the Coppa Italia in his first season. His records for the two clubs were equally impressive - with 31 goals for Juve from 133 games, and 23 goals for Roma from 92 games. Luis Del Sol A veteran of over 200 Juventus appearances when he joined Roma in 1970, Del Sol was immediately installed as captain, inheriting the armband from Spanish compatriot Joaquin Peiro. His best achievement in a two-year spell with Roma was lifting the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1972. Dino Da Costa One of Roma's greatest goalscorers of all-time, Da Costa netted 79 goals for the club across a five-year spell. His scoring exploits have stood the test of time, with none of Agostino Di Bartolomei, Rudi Voller or Giuseppe Giannini being able to match him. Da Costa left Roma for Atalanta in 1961, and two years later he was at Juventus, where he spent three years. Daniel Fonseca The last man to wear the Roma number 10 shirt before Francesco Totti, Fonseca often played second fiddle to fellow South American striker Abel Balbo. Nonetheless, he still managed 20 league goals in 65 games for Roma between 1994 and 1997. After that, he moved to Juventus, where he spent four less successful years. John Charles The only British player to ever score for Roma, Charles was more famous for his five-year stint with Juventus, where he had an extraordinary scoring record of 108 league goals in 155 games. His time at Roma was much shorter, but even though his matches were minimal, he maintained his excellent goals to games ratio - finding the net four times for Roma in 10 appearances. |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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