Dice: “Però è ‘na cosa esagerata,
pe’ ‘na coppetta poi, su, fate i boni.
Che rappresenta ‘sta carnevalata?
Ammazza quanto sete caciaroni!”
Dico: ” Peggio pe’ te se ‘n sai afferrà
quer che de bello ce sta dentro ar core,
dentro a le vene de questa città.
Beh, te lo dico io: se chiama amore.
Se nun lo sai capì restane fori,
nun ragionà de cose che nun sai.
Chi sventola orgojoso quei colori,
magari soffre, ma nun perde mai.”
Marazico – ©
Champions. Of Europe. Winners of the first edition of the UEFA Conference League. Without ifs and buts. Anyone who tries to belittle this achievement is either in bad faith or simply froth of anger. The only Italian team to win a European competition, the last time 12 years ago, just happened to be led by him, our leader and today a prophet in the Giallorossi homeland. The divine Josè.
The only one to have won them all. Fifth cup in his incredible palmares. The “hand of five” at the Tirana stadium. A serial winner, everywhere. All this is Mourinho, that poor old man, derided by many, the same ones who today jump on the winners’ bandwagon. They asked for its head who knows to make room for, perhaps the champagne football of Italiano or De Zerbi, forgetting that in recent decades all those others who had passed here had failed miserably, with even better equipped teams.
In less than a year this gentleman has rebuilt a family, broght people at the stadium, empathy and pride. But above all he brought us the much coveted trophy. He was the only one who could do it. Our hope. And unlike his other prestigious victories, this time he did it with little means available, a team not full of champions, but under construction. His tears are of joy and awareness, making happy the most beautiful fans in the world, for too long desperately looking for victories. This cup has a different and perhaps unique flavor for this very reason.
Rome had been expecting all this since 1961, from the Fair’s Cup. This May 26th partially redeems the finals of 1984 and 1991, wounds never healed. And cancel the other May 26th, the unfortunate one. From today it becomes our day to celebrate in the years to come, for the sake of the Lazio people.
This day will also be remembered for the big party, the parade of the team on board the doouble decker bus, from Caracalla to the Colosseum, a sea of Giallorossi fans at the Circus Maximus. It was destiny. The story, the circumstances. It could not have been otherwise. The watershed between the past and the future.
This immense happiness between tears of joy and emotion has pervaded many Romanistas, especially those of another era or generation. From the 1983 to the 2001 championship. Lost finals. We weren’t used to it anymore. Our thoughts immediately went to our loved ones and to the curva paradise, those who guided us towards this faith, to celebrate this extraordinary event from up there, in the spirit that has always united us and that will never leave us. We love you. Forza Grande Roma. Always.
Regardless of how it ends. José Mourinho is working a miracle, on and off the pitch. He had started with a small squad, anchored in sixth-seventh place for some years. Some excellent players from the first places, others less good, young, or still to be deciphered. Fluctuating results, some great games but also some very bad ones, not including referee’s scandals and many lost points.
“The team must reach my level, not the other way around”. Slowly but surely José remodelled the team, with the few means available, in January he sent away and put aside those players that he considered not up to par. Even though lots of fans were shocked and asked for his head. For having “devalued” certain players. “Boiled, old, incapable”. Told by fans of a team that hardly ever wins anything has enough effect. And coincidentally, he was right here too. And instead, he then launched, enhanced, and improved other players, obviously better than those “purged”. Above all Zalewsky, on the bench all year, now an immovable owner.
Mou has brought back the enthusiasm, the full stadium, and the support of the people. A sea of love for the Giallorossi lo, which has not seen for a long time. But above all he is changing the minds of the players and the mentality, a growth that also includes a strong club that supports him. José’s hand. Attention is meticulous on everything, team, fans, and management. That is the club.
Three years of project. Many did not understand all this. And they contested it when things weren’t going well, perhaps giving heed to certain characters from the ether who were a little biased or who hated him regardless in the various TV shows and various newspapers. The important thing is that now all Romanistas have understood this. Mourinho is our only chance for growth. To win. Not to float.
We leave the various coaches, Italiano or De Zerbi to their halfway zone. After having seen so many utopias of a beautiful and hopeful football, I now prefer a more practical and winning football. We have the best of all, and we still don’t realize. With the euphoria of the final, he reminds us that we are not a team of champions. He continues to goad the club to raise the bar and invest, he continues to praise the fans, a social phenomenon to be studied, but also remember that we lack winning trophies.
The Special One in a few months of work has brought us to a European final, which we have not reached for 31 years, since 1991. Next year we are in the Europa League. With the points stolen by referees and the Var we could also go to the Champions League in place of a Juventus that made a ridiculous championship, like ours, not forgetting how much they invested and their expectations of glory. And that we play a final on Wednesday. They don’t. We are the only Italian team.
José Mourinho has achieved the maximum possible so far. Dybala or not Dybala, next year other strong and functional players must arrive, the team must improve in quality, ready to climb positions and start competing at other levels. I am convinced that the owners are very ambitious and that it will follow its coach with investments. The time is right. The final can be our driving force. “Vate retro” Newcastle. FORZA ROMA.
The regret for other lost points continues. This time, however, there are no referees involved, no Var and not even our performance. Just a lot of bad luck. A disproportionate number of shots on goal and woodwork hits. True, it was the Venezia just relegated, and with a man down for 60 minutes.
Venezia played with so much determination, respecting the rules with the championship still in progress. Just as opposed to the match played at the Allianz stadium, with Juventus who decided in the second half that it was time to celebrate the farewells of Chiellini and Dybala. Allegri changes half a team to make room for the young players and defend for 45 minutes. Sarri, Tare and Lotito already knew that Lazio would eventually equalize.
An Italian championship where the mess is always there when you least expect it. Or maybe when you expect it too. With Lazio now fifth in the standings, Roma is now still in a precarious situation to finish sixth. We need the victory in Turin against the ‘granata’, and thanks to the slips of Atalanta and Fiorentina, fate is still in our hands. It will be interesting to see if Josè Mourinho will make a moderate or more massive turnover in view of the final.
There is a dilemma. It is the last of the championship, it is important to win it to guarantee Europe next year. But the final for us Romanisti is now more important. Whatever it takes. The team needs to breathe, some players are tired. The tribute of the Olimpico even after the disappointing draw with Venezia denotes an infinite enthusiasm and euphoria. There is a great desire to take this cup home. But there is still a game to play. Let’s hold on, then from Friday evening the Tirana operation starts. All focused. Forza Roma.
Josè Mourinho’s tears are also ours. After 30 years, Roma are in a European final. The testimony of how important it is for this city. Unique emotions last night, at the stadium and around with all the Roma fans around the world. We are in the final and we all took it together, starting from the strength and determination of its leader and proud leader. The divine Josè.
After Tammy’s goal, the team gathered like a Roman tortoise, a squad of legionaries to repel the enemy Britannia, as stated on the banner in the curva sud. Impenetrable defense. Indeed, Roma had at least three occasions to double on the counterattack. Great performance of the team, in all departments. The team comes out exhausted and in the end all to collect the embrace of the Giallorossi fans.
Tired and out of steam after thursday, against Fiorentina did not go well. Now you have to let off the adrenaline. In hindsight, better off with some fresh legs instead. Another cocky referee and useless Var, same old grief…no point anymore. Let’s win the last two to ensure European football next season. Or else:) The next two matches in the league must be honoured but with the second lines on the pitch. It matters little. Only the final counts. Aim the Dutch of Rotterdam. Let’s go to Tirana. Forza Grande Roma!
