ROME – The details often make the difference, especially if a match lasts 19 minutes plus injury time. And it is precisely a detail, noted by some observers, that struck Roma in Udine. During the usual warm-up of the teams on the pitch, about half an hour before the referee’s initial whistle, the Friulians and the Giallorossi interpreted that moment in a completely different way.
Roma’s unusual warm-up
While Cannavaro (making his absolute debut in Serie A as a coach) and his staff followed the traditional method, with physical exercises and shots on goal to finish, De Rossi surprised by using Dybala and his teammates in a high-tempo practice match, unusual for the situation, but which ultimately turned out to be a brilliant idea. A detail that was a signal. Because he prepared the players physically and mentally better than the Bianconeri. The impression, therefore, is that Roma had already won there, long before Cristante’s header. Then the mini match began, with a formation with three full-backs and three strikers lined up in a sort of 4-2-4 in the ball possession phase (“I made less tactical and more logical choices – explained De Rossi at the end of the match – I tried to keep as many players as possible on the pitch who could score goals even without team play, but with a shot from outside, a header, a corner kick, an individual play.”), occasions, saves (Svilar’s one against Lucca was beautiful), errors and substitutions. Until the final goal, which made the coach jump from the bench like a cricket.
How De Rossi is convincing the team and owners
The strength of De Rossi as coach, who is surprising everyone to the point of convincing the Friedkins to confirm him for the next seasons (“Daniele’s leadership is marked by respect and courage, while his strength and trust, deeply rooted in the club, are in line with Roma’s values“, the words in the club’s latest press release), lies a lot in the freshness of his ideas which leads him to propose continuous innovations, even experimental ones, and, which is not at all obvious, convincing and involving the players. Details that are very reminiscent of Spalletti before Roman management. Spinazzola’s statements (“We did a long warm-up and a mini game to get into the swing of things. We were really good. We knew we had to enter at two thousand, but aware that they could also attack us and therefore we would have to be balanced“) confirm that the locker room is with him. The fans, needless to say. But as always, the results on the pitch, excellent so far, will be the only true judge.
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