Calm! If football teaches one thing to those who have the desire, the time and the right cultural availability to understand it, it is that emotion is the first enemy of a team-group. But certainly in today’s football, and in particular in a place like that of Rome, the environmental component has a rather invasive function. Thus all those (a minority, of course, but quite noisy) who after the defeat against Bologna began to sow doubts, perplexities and even to express opinions contrary to the newborn De Rossi project, are in some way little soldiers more or less aware of the army that this project will try to fight. So let’s avoid hurting ourselves, let’s leave the task of tripping us up to the Marescas on duty and let’s remain united around a coach who will be able to take us where perhaps we have never been, to that fantastic place where feeling and reason can finally coexist and even celebrate , despite an environment in which one thing too often excludes the other. Are you asking, therefore, for an act of faith? No. The reasons for hoping in the paradise of the righteous are quite solid and the match against Bologna even strengthened them. Be careful.
The outcome of the match
Right off the bat we gave full credit to Motta’s splendid team for bringing home three points in the derby between the best teams in the championship. However, no one is able to say with certainty what would have happened if things had gone differently in some key moments. In this sense, even just for the calculation of probabilities, it was inevitable that sooner or later a very unlucky match would complicate Roma’s path and it is perhaps a good thing for football that it happened against the best team in this group returning after champion Inter. But if Roma had taken the lead with El Shaarawy, if the referee had whistled El Azzouzi’s dangerous play on Pellegrini for the first goal, if Paredes had scored into an empty net on the occasion that occurred immediately after their lead , if Svilar’s save had kept Zirkzee’s ball on the line and not an inch inside, if the defense hadn’t been so blatantly distracted in the action for the third goal, if Pellegrini had scored the three-two goal with 10 minutes left to play, if Roma had not been tested physically and mentally by the sensational match against Milan just four days earlier or if it had been Bologna who had had such a demanding commitment instead of the nine days free to prepare only for this match or if, we say it last even if we believe that it has a much more important place in the ranking of the factors that influenced the match, Maresca had gone to the seaside and for the match at the Olimpico they had appointed a less provocative and more serene referee towards the Giallorossi team , then perhaps today we would have to comment on a different match. It’s true, the “if” game can be applied to any match, even those won. But the thought we are trying to fight here is the one that spread from the moment the match ended, namely that Bologna is clearly stronger and that they dominated the match at the Olimpico. No, Bologna took what the match allowed them to take, they exploited all the opportunities that came their way and enjoyed the privilege of playing freely and calmly against a team too conditioned by external factors (this is a fact that however, it must not turn into an alibi). It is enough to mention the Expected goals data, that is, that little number which testifies without any biased conditioning how many goals a team would have deserved to score in relation to the conclusions made: Roma had earned 1.83 goals, Bologna 1.26.
The splendid tactical challenge
The confrontation between De Rossi and Motta seen on the tactical board was truly spectacular. Bologna is a beautiful team to watch, the players have been transformed into free, thinking souls, capable of lengthening or reducing the pitch according to their will, a truly shared will, clear to everyone, starters and reserves. But the moment in which the guests really disposed of their opponent was only after the 3-1, when Roma’s psychological picture was irreparably compromised. Up to that point the match had been balanced and several times in the match, as evidenced by the episodes already mentioned, Roma would have had the opportunity to put their nose forward or realign it immediately. But fate decided differently and then the management of the second half dribble left the impression that Bologna was truly superior to Roma. As much as we appreciate the work done by Motta, we tend to think that it is not, but that based on what has been done in this championship, even from August to January, it is right that the rossoblù are further ahead and have now secured fourth place ( with some more ambition, even). The aspect that most struck us about the rossoblù team was their ability to press one on one when not in possession of the ball and to dribble, always freeing a man in the possession phase, lengthening, narrowing, shortening or widening the field depending on the moment. and of extemporaneous necessity. The rotations of the players in each area of the pitch with the application of each one to replace his partner in the function are truly admirable. By playing without pressure they can afford anything, taking advantage of the skills of excellent players who are capable of expressing themselves by making the most of their potential. Furthermore, they have such physicality and tenacity that they can defend with ease even using strong ways and this is a characteristic that many teams in love with their game are unable to guarantee.
Where Rome is going
On the other hand, we remain convinced that the Roma project has much more ambitious potential and that the football that De Rossi has in mind with the adjustments guaranteed by a sporting director aligned with the same values (who more than Burdisso?) will be able to achieve very high goals level. In the meantime, we remain clinging to the hope of bringing something home already this year for both the championship and the Europa League even if mocking fate has put Roma up against a team that seems like a slightly stronger Bologna. Raise your hearts and let’s go to Rome. Not just by faith.
