GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
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.
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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 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. As summer approaches, we should be getting closer to finding out who Roma's next head coach will be - however, there still doesn't appear to be an easy front runner.
Maurizio Sarri has reportedly been identified as the top target, but if he can guide Chelsea to a top four finish in the Premier League, or victory in the Europa League, then it could be hard to prise him away from London. Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini and Sampdoria's Marco Giampaolo are other prime candidates, but doubts remain over their ability to manage top clubs. And, unless a Qatari takeover does happen, Antonio Conte is surely out of Roma's price range. Perhaps there is one man who deserves to be in the mix, who hasn't been suggested yet. A man who is closer to Roma than all the others - current interim boss Claudio Ranieri. Ranieri is now halfway through his expected 12-game tenure, and he has completely transformed Roma's season. He took over a side deprived of confidence, having been embarrassed in the Derby Della Capitale and Champions League. It looked doubtful that Roma could even qualify for the Europa League, let alone finish in the top four. Now, after six games at the helm, Ranieri has guided Roma to fifth place, just one point off the target which seemed impossible just a few weeks ago. He has done so whilst juggling a number of injuries and suspensions to key players. But now, that final goal is within touching distance. Let that sink in. Everybody knew that Ranieri, in the short term, would bring his immense passion for the club and his demands of high commitment from the squad. His enthusiasm for the role has been evident in abundance. The way he says "noi tifosi" (us fans) in his interviews makes the fans feel connected with him. Ranieri is, and always has been, completely in love with this club. He is reminding the squad what it means to play for Roma, making sure they know not to take their place for granted. That mentality has made Roma competitive again. The other main hope when the 67-year-old arrived would be that he would bring defensive stability to the team. It seemed a mountainous task, with Roma having conceded more goals than most of the other teams in the top half. But, somehow, Ranieri has changed things. Thanks to a bold decision in replacing Robin Olsen with Antonio Mirante in goal, and the minor rebirth of Federico Fazio, Roma have now kept two consecutive clean sheets for only the third time this season. Under Ranieri, Roma now look hard to beat again. Earlier in the season, they allowed teams to roll over them, cutting through the backline with ease. Now, that's not happening anywhere near as often. The Giallorossi have a structure, and their spine is solid. Admittedly, it hasn't been perfect, with the loss to SPAL a blip and the heavy defeat to Napoli a major disappointment. But since the latter, Roma have negotiated three tricky fixtures, and have emerged on the other side unbeaten. Ranieri has transmitted to them a resilience that is meaning they are working harder than at any other time this season. Look at the way they bounced back twice to draw with Fiorentina. They showed huge determination to restore parity so quickly both times. He may not be the headline name that some fans want to see as permanent manager next season, but why doesn't he deserve a chance? If he does guide Roma to Champions League qualification, he will have performed nothing short of a miracle. That would surely be enough to at least put him in contention - especially when many of the other names touted are unrealistic. If Roma appointed a manager from elsewhere, it would hit them financially. Sarri, Gasperini and Giampaolo are all currently employed by other clubs and compensation fees would need to be paid, whereas Conte's wage demands would put a major strain on the club. In contrast, Ranieri is already at Roma. Giving him another season in charge would be a much better scenario in terms of cost. One of the more unusual outcomes that has been suggested is for Daniele De Rossi to retire and immediately take over as coach. It's clear that coaching is in De Rossi's blood, and that is where is future will lie, but isn't it too soon to throw him straight into the cauldron? If he does decide to retire this season, then he could become Ranieri's assistant instead. It would be a great combination on the touchline - two men of different generations, both embodying what it means to love Roma. Ranieri could be the tutor that De Rossi needs to give him the grounding in preparation for his future as a head coach. Obviously, at his age, Ranieri would be a short-term solution, but with there being no guarantees over many of the targeted names, he represents the option with least risk. He has been the father figure that Roma have needed to get them out of a difficult patch, and now the players are returning to form under him. Roma shouldn't be afraid to let that continue for one more year, until someone younger and more realistic does become available. Until then, Ranieri deserves to be in with a shout. Want more Roma features on your timeline? Like the new Giallorossi Yorkshire Facebook page!
10th April, 2018 is a date that no Roma fan will ever forget.
It was the date on which the Giallorossi pulled off one of the most miraculous comebacks in the history of the Champions League, as they dominated five-time winners Barcelona to reach the semi-finals for the first time since the competition changed its name from the European Cup. It was the date on which the unthinkable became reality. For a team of Roma's size to overcome one of the biggest clubs in Europe, whose lineup featured two of the very best footballers of all-time in Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, alongside several more stars of the modern game, was beyond even the most optimistic fan's wildest dreams. But there was something about that night that felt like it was destiny for Roma to win. When Edin Dzeko opened the scoring six minutes in, it didn't feel like an ordinary goal. It felt like a platform for Roma to build on. It was the spark they needed to believe in a most unlikely victory. The players ran back to their own half, ready for kick-off. It was clear already that the Lupi weren't there to make up the numbers. Even if everyone had already written them off, they had a game to win, and they weren't going to stop until it was impossible. They proved that night that it wasn't impossible. They approached the game with the right hunger and desire. It was generally accepted that they had been unlucky to lose 4-1 in the first leg. The game had been much closer than that, and conceding two own goals was extremely unfortunate. But nobody could have predicted the way they would go about the return fixture. For once, in the second half, luck was on Roma's side. They were correctly awarded a penalty after Gerard Pique brought down Edin Dzeko in the penalty area underneath the Curva Sud. There was only one man who was going to take the spot kick: the inspirational captain Daniele De Rossi. De Rossi may have been nearer the end of his career than most of his teammates, but that didn't mean he couldn't dream as well. After more than 15 years of service to his beloved club, DDR was more determined than anyone to record another remarkable achievement. As he began his run up for the penalty, his eyes were fixed firmly on the ball. He had the focus of the consummate professional that he was, is, and always has been. He could make no mistake from that spot kick. 2-0 Roma. Eusebio Di Francesco's side had a little over half an hour to get the one more goal they needed to write their names in history. The fans in the Stadio Olimpico had been singing all through the night - they didn't need anyone to tell them it was possible to believe - and their voices were only getting louder, as the chances of completing the comeback became ever-more realistic. With eight minutes remaining, it couldn't have got any more real. Roma won a corner, and Cengiz Under delivered the ball to the near post. Watching the movement of the ball every step of the way was Kostas Manolas, and he timed his run to perfection to get into the space. He had a clear view of the ball, but still had a lot of work to do. Arching his neck, he connected with the ball, sending it across goal. A second later, it dropped into the net. The Stadio exploded.
The buzz around the last 10 minutes was palpable. The crowd were one body, willing Roma on for the final push they needed. At the start of the night, the focus had been on scoring. Now, for the last hurdle, they had to switch their attention to keeping the ball out of their own net.
That they managed to do, and the scenes upon the final whistle were incredible. The squad and coaching staff raced around the pitch in excitement, trying to make sense of the significance of what they had just achieved. They had controlled the game against a side far superior in quality to them, sealing the perfect win and ensuring their European adventure would continue. And the remarkable thing was, they hadn't got lucky. They fully deserved to win in the manner they did. It was an atmosphere like no other. No supporter wanted to leave the venue. This was a magical night and they wanted to live every moment of it, to share it with the players who had done them so proud.
Even outside the stadium, the jubilant atmosphere continued. The city was alive that night. Car horns were blaring in celebration, fans on the streets screaming 'FORZA ROMA' as loud as they could. Flags and scarves were waving out of the windows of people's homes. Everyone was a part of it. It didn't matter if people had met before; everyone was celebrating together that night.
One year on, it still feels dreamlike. There are so many questions that still don't have a clear answer - most beginning with the word 'How'. How did it happen? How was that possible? How wasn't it a dream? But it wasn't a dream. It was all real. It was a monumental event that can never be taken away from this club and its fans. Through the highs and the lows, the memory of that extraordinary April night will live on. As the players who were part of that miracle leave one by one, they will still remain a part of Roma's history, for the scale of what they achieved. Every single one of them will be remembered for the part they played. The story of 10th April, 2018, will live on in the hearts of every Romanista across the world, serving as a reminder of what is possible when the belief is there. That result was colossal, on a level that is unlikely to be matched for a long time. Rome was the centre of the world once again. It's a story of a team who never gave up. A story of a squad who refused to listen to the odds. It's a story of a club whose history has been filled with ups and downs; but that night, they created a positive to outweigh every negative that had gone before. They won a football match that nobody thought they could. But it was far more significant than that. They brought joy to their people, who hadn't felt it for such a long time. That night, they made themselves heroes. Claudio Ranieri will once again have a depleted squad at his disposal as Roma travel to face SPAL on Saturday evening.
Roma got through Ranieri's first game in charge since his return without influential figures such as Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi and Kostas Manolas, and in tonight's trip to Ferrara, several big players will be absent again. Aleksandar Kolarov missed the win over Empoli through suspension, but he hasn't returned to the matchday squad for the SPAL clash. With Davide Santon a minor doubt as well, Juan Jesus or Ivan Marcano could be forced to fill in at left-back, with the other pairing the returning Federico Fazio in the centre of defence. Lorenzo Pellegrini also remains among the absentees, while Alessandro Florenzi is suspended after picking up a red card against Empoli. However, there is some good news, as Dzeko has returned to the squad. Therefore, it's likely that we will see him play alongside Patrik Schick in the first proper taste of Ranieri's 4-4-2 system. For SPAL, the main danger man will no doubt be former Atalanta striker Andrea Petagna, who has scored 10 goals in 25 Serie A games this season. A forward with physical presence, Roma's defence will need to be wary of his threat. The game kicks off at 5pm UK time, and will be shown on Free Sports, with coverage starting from 5:15pm. It's the first game of Claudio Ranieri's second spell in charge of Roma tonight, as the Giallorossi entertain relegation-threatened Empoli.
Ranieri will be hoping to inspire the team to their first win of March, after disappointing performances in the Derby Della Capitale and Champions League saw Eusebio Di Francesco lose his job. Whilst the level of the opponent gives Roma a good chance to put those wrongs behind them, a number of absences are causing complications to their preparation for the clash. As many as seven first team players are absent, with Edin Dzeko, Federico Fazio and Aleksandar Kolarov suspended, and Daniele De Rossi, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Cengiz Under and Javier Pastore injured. Five Primavera players have been called up as reinforcements, including Alessio Riccardi, who made his senior debut in the Coppa Italia win over Virtus Entella earlier this year, and Zan Celar, who is top scorer for the U19s this term. Due to all the absentees, there won't actually be many major decisions for Ranieri to make. However, the coach must choose whether or not to drop goalkeeper Robin Olsen for Antonio Mirante, after the Swede's recent struggles. As for the opponents, Empoli have only won one game in 2019, and are yet to win on the road all season. The stats, then, certainly favour Roma, but let's see how they cope without the influence of so many key players. |
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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