Categoria: AS Roma Corner

Rubrica in inglese gestita dagli amici del Roma Club Dublino

0 June review

10 Giugno 2023
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

“You have to know how to lose.” Especially when Roma are involved, or even Mourinho, I might add. The wave of hypocrisy hit in the aftermath of the great theft in Budapest. They weren’t expecting anything else. All these scientists of fair play, in a flash. With what face and courage these people have the arrogance to speak, ignoring the fact that in the age of the internet and social networks anyone who says nonsense is now unmasked in a few minutes. They don’t have the slightest shame, as former players, managers, novice coaches, all protagonists between past and present, of everything except fair play.

Josè Mourinho made his way across the pitch to go under the section of the Sevilla fans to applaud them, and then complimented the opposing players. With applause. Despite the bitterness. A true Fair Play. Not a mention, a line, a word, from any colleague, newspaper or media outlet. That’s the hatred these little people have for this man. Only the words thrown at the referee stand out, certainly harsh words, out of anger at having lost a final because of those who hadn’t done his duty. So would knowing how to lose here be synonymous with never complaining and respecting all the decisions made by the referee on the field, even when a clearly stolen trophy is involved? Practically utopia in the world of football. There is no football match where players and coaches have never complained. And it will never exist. All these well-meaning now football “gentlemen” make you smile but not too much.

Josè Mourinho is a winner and he’s not used to losing, but Roma are. We have a culture of defeat in our historical DNA, we’ve been through a lot, even if we’ve always got back up, head held high. The man from Setubal is showing us the path towards the culture of victory but also of mutual respect, which many do not have for this club. Mou is there and defends us. Roma and its fans boast honesty, which they have always been proud of, because the culture of deception does not belong to us. Fraud hypocrisy we willingly leave it to them, to right-thinking people around the corner, that has always been in their DNA.

If the club decides to restart from Josè, then it also restarts from its values, support its battles, inside and outside the pitch, give full powers over technical management, support him with a strong manager to work in symbiosis, who can help him strengthen the team, in short let’s make him a Romanista for life, a further step in this great bond and sense of belonging. The victory against Spezia at the last gasp brings us back to the Europa League, for a rematch, hopefully here in Dublin. But now we need a rest, waiting for the transfer market. Wishing Tammy Abraham a speedy recovery. Next is for the first game of the new season. With Mou in charge. Always Forza Roma!

0 The road to Budapest

26 Maggio 2023
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

Failure to win against Salernitana probably puts an end to the race for fourth place. With a victory we could still hope to hook Milan, with whom we had thrown away another 2 points in the direct clash. A pity because everything was still within our reach. In hindsight unfortunately you never win.

Against Fiorentina it will be a match from the end of the season, Mourinho will not risk several starters, including Pellegrini, with Dybala still in the pits, also in strong doubts for the Budapest final. Paulo’s condition seems worrying, not pre-tactical. The impression is that we will see him on the bench. Winning Wednesday’s final is now the only real goal. Lifting the cup would mean another European trophy, two cups in one calendar year, unthinkable stuff up until two years ago, but also entry into the Champions League, that is, the most important competition. A sensational pairing that would bring in a lot of cash, a triumph for planning the future, for raising the bar, for thinking big in the years to come.

A cup and a future that will necessarily lead to still having Josè Mourinho at the helm, at least for next year. Our leader. Budapest is the big decider. Everything at stake. The future of Roma and its coach. I don’t want to reason about what will happen if things don’t go well. The castle is still standing, solid and loaded like all the 15,000 who will follow the team to the Puskas Arena. The tension is high, but first there is the match in Florence, good only for the adrenaline rush. The countdown begins on Saturday night. Ready for this last effort. All united. Come on!

0 Europa Final

20 Maggio 2023
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

Talking about the league almost makes no sense. Despite the draw in Bologna, Roma remain in the running for fourth place, and therefore for a place in the Champions League. A few days later is another draw, but much more important.

Roma go past Bayer Leverkusen and get the Europa League final where they will challenge Seville. The second European final in two years. Sci-fi stuff. Another miracle by Jose Mourinho. The only one capable. History says this, the results speak for themselves, and not from now, 26 career titles, wherever he went.

A real phenomenon, in spite of his critics . We don’t shoot on goal and we don’t score goals, but only the results count in football, nobody remembers good games if the victories don’t come afterward. For the show there is the cinema or the theatre. Not letting others play is a game system, like it or not, the Special one, which works, which brings joy to the Roma people.

Those who prefer something else can take a seat, I instead keep the Conference cup raised in Tirana and the final that we will now play in Budapest. I will never exchange those emotions, that never change with the spectacular 4-5 with Inter, or with the record of points record of some saint who in the end it brought nothing. I don’t enjoy losing. Mourinho brought us two finals in two years, with a limited squad, full of injuries, almost always in an emergency.

A team clearly inferior to the others of leading competitors, a team certainly less strong than those had in the past by Spalletti, Rudi Garcia or Di Francesco. A team that scores too little but defends itself in an extraordinary way. Mou has managed to create a group where even those who don’t play give everything on the pitch.

A miracle that only he could perform. There is none for anyone. Now head, heart and legs at the Puskas Arena in Budapest. The most important game this time is not the next one. Come on Jose. Come on Rome!

0 Monthly review

2 Febbraio 2023
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner

Dismay. The unthinkable. At peak joy. Never had it happened to us to be almost happy for a defeat. Roma played an excellent game at the Maradona, come out with zero points but from the fans’ reaction it almost seemed like a victory. The family photo, the unity of the group, the strong signal of the club for those who don’t want to be part of it. Mourinho also succeeds in this feat.

Everything seemed to go well, the standings, the next “feasible” matches and the road almost paved to reach the final of the Italian Cup. And the icing is the return of Gini Wijnaldum to the team. The prelude. Full stadium, lots of enthusiasm for an evening that is difficult to imagine. And instead comes a tremendous blow.

Against the last in the standings who had never won a game so far. Cremonese who, however, had already eliminated Napoli, who had also given Inter and Juve a hard time. An alarm bell that however was ignored. With all due respect, you can’t play an in or out match with a team full of reserves and promising young players. If someone really had to catch his breath, it could have been organised better, with a lighter turnover, even in the next games.

I don’t agree with the coach’s choices and explanations this time. We were presumptuous, too many important players out, whoever took over was unprepared to keep up with the pressure and we saw it later when we had to run for cover. But it was too late. In the second half we created more but also made a mistake due to the frenzy of having to chase two goals. Celik’s own goal immediately at the start of the second half scuttled us, and Smalling’s sensational chance was the real chance of being able to catch up with the result, with almost 20 minutes still to play. In the end a huge disappointment.

These were Mourinho’s games, the ones that he never makes mistakes, that take you all the way to the final, this year within reach as never before, an almost unrepeatable opportunity. Now all that remains is to forget everything, if we can. The fear is of suffering a psychological backlash, we can’t afford to throw everything away, Empoli are a tough team, see Inter, we absolutely have to start over, we can’t miss the Champions League, with Juventus out of the picture, this is another unrepeatable opportunity. Waiting for Salzburg in the Europa League.

Finally, I say to Zaniolo that a press release to a press agency doesn’t affect us at all, he’s put himself into a corner and is looking for a way out, which doesn’t exist. But there is a possibility, come to the stadium, take a microphone and ask forgiveness in front of sixty thousand people, dismiss your agent, no longer take stupid advice from your entourage, renew your contract for another two years at the club’s terms and conditions and make yourself available. I’m sure the stadium will be singing “Nico Nico” again. Regards.

0 Monthly review

20 Gennaio 2023
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner

The positive streak between the championship and the Italian cup rekindles the optimism of being able to hit at least one target at the end of the season. Champions League football, maybe a Coppa Italia, Europa League, if we believe. The unexpected draw at the San Siro, the narrow victories against Genoa and Fiorentina. The standings say that we are only 4 points behind second place. the road almost paved towards the final of the Italian Cup. Without forgetting Salzburg in Europe.

We are in the running on all fronts, some players have awakened, the game seems to be more fluid, above all the desire and determination seem to have returned. Everything is going well, and here comes some distractions to dampen the enthusiasm a bit. First the fans clashing on the motorway, and because of some idiot the team won’t have the fans with them for two months. And then the Zaniolo case. A player who really cares for his jerseys, who works hard but who can’t play football anymore.

Merciless numbers, bad performances, a contract that Roma are not willing to extend at certain salary. And maybe even the player has decided to change. Is it worth continuing to wait for him? Who knows what Mourinho thinks. Everything is toxic, a situation that has been dragging on for a long time, not now. But anything can happen, even a sale in January. But also his stay, at a reduced wage. To determine who will have the courage to spend a lot and bet on the player. Both to keep him here or elsewhere. Yet, if Zaniolo goes, who is going to replace him? And what about Smalling? The rumours aren’t reassurring, our top defender, to lose him now would be a much bigger blow.

In the meantime, we need to think about the common good, a team that seems to run better with Tammy and Dybala in front, with Pellegrini behind. Regardless of this, a fully functional Zaniolo would be very useful, even starting from the bench, ready to play his chances, but only if he’s there with his head. Meanwhile, we have our head on Spezia and Cremonese, league and cup. Forward we go.

0 Monthly review

9 Novembre 2022
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner

It is not a question of play. Each time you have to hear the same story from certain people. Mourinho has always been like this, wherever he went. Winning, first of all. Porto, Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Manchester. A European trophy arrives in Rome, which had been missing here for 60 years, with the poorest team he has ever coached. And he succeeded where everyone had always failed. Always with the same philosophy. That does not change. The difference is the players, the quality and the attitudes of the individuals.

The team does not play as a team. After the win at Verona, we lost the derby to a team that put the bus behind in defense for 100 minutes. In the face of Sarrismo. But the Lazio players didn’t care less than zero for not playing the game. They won with just one shot, or rather our assist. So also with Sassuolo. We did little and nothing, precisely those players, those out, those out of shape, and for the poor quality left on the pitch. Above all, we lack quality in ideas, light in attacking play, we are slow and predictable, trivial wrong passes, stops and ball checks.

Sassuolo seemed to have an edge even in dribbling and phrasing, a ball stealer like Frattesi who would serve us as the bread in the middle, or an Orient to tease on the wing. Quite the opposite to seeing Zaniolo continuing his ruffled run, Shomurodov is anything but a sniper, and Zalewsky’s involution, to name a few. Then who took over in the second half, which immediately made those who came out regret, from El Sharaawy to Karsdorp, irritating to say the least.

We also lacked defense, this time with a few too many flaws. Positive notes only from the great goal of Abraham and from the personality of Volpato, who is destined to grow. Two points lost for how the game was going but also one gained for what we saw on the pitch in the total calculation. In the regret that between the derby and tonight 4 points could be taken, missed opportunities that will weigh in the end. Waiting for the last one with Torino before the world cup stop, it is essential to win to stay hooked to the train tha leads to Champions League football. One last note: If Dybala comes back to lend a hand to the cause, very well, if he only serves to be summoned to go to Qatar then he better stay where he is now, in the pitstop. Another championship starts in January, everyone needs to be recovered, fresh and charged, ready to start again. Who does not put the effort can also go elsewhere.

0 September review

7 Ottobre 2022
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner

Joy and pain. It’s been a bumpy road so far. A big win at the San Siro, now another defeat comes at home, after Atalanta. This time with Betis Seville, partly because of bad luck but also because of our mistakes.

It was the direct match to try to recapture the Spaniards at the top of the Europa League group standings. The game had gone well, on the right track with taking the lead over a penalty, but then a few negative episodes ended up penalizing us. Above all, the goal of possible doubling failed by Cristante and the great save by their goalkeeper on Dybala’s volley.

Roma goes to alternating current, ups and downs, but with a positive constant, precisely Paulo Dybala, simply extraordinary with his plays, once again the absolute protagonist. The same cannot be said of his comrades in the ward. Abraham struggles and works but hardly ever succeeds. Zaniolo perhaps even worse, never sharp, irritating at times and not very intelligent given the angry reaction that also costs him the red card in the final minutes. Pellegrini is also not having a good time. The captain, absent with Betis, has mostly physical problems. Even Celik, too, who came out injured. Hard now is even securing second spot.

Despite everything, the ranking in s positive in the league, but thanks above all to Dybala and Smalling. We need to be more cynical inside the box. The team lacks the performance of the other top players, anyone from Spinazzola to Rui Patricio. We need a great performance in Seville. But first there is Lecce, we need to regroup immediately, it is too important to remain hooked to the top zone in the league, then we go to Seville to take back the stolen goods. Mou, take care of it!

0 August review

3 Settembre 2022
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner

Here we go again. From Josè Mourinho and the whole team who gave us that trophy that had been missing for too long. An immense joy that the Romanisti people deserved. We have said it here repeatedly throughout the year, even when things weren’t going very well, even when someone called upon people like Italian, Dionisi or De Zerbi, not understanding that in Rome you only win with the winners.

History tells it. The Special One has accomplished a feat, immediately hitting the center in the first year, with a short and deficient team. And besides, the owners, with their seriousness and intelligence, have turned the club upside down in less than two years, in all sectors. They didn’t miss a beat, without saying a word. Facts and not words. A three-year project that is preparing to accelerate. This year we are already aiming higher, with an expanded squad, targeted purchases and great champions.

Roma is already a great team on paper, the gap with the top four seems to be almost filled but it is clear that now the field will have to confirm all this. The important thing is to stay up there to compete, the minimum goal is fourth place and to go to the bottom both in the Coppa Italia and in the Europa Legue. The winning mentality is acquired in this way, with victories, hunger and ambition. But also with the right and strong players. Mourinho’s presence brought about all of this. People like Dybala, Wjinaldum and Matic and Abraham would never have come here without Josè.

Now there is also a great leader like Pellegrini and all the other missing pieces. Not forgetting another great purchase, potentially the strongest player, Nico Zaniolo. There is a lot of enthusiasm, rightly so. And it is not the usual “Scudetto of August”. The difference with the last few years is that now there is a strong coach, club and team. All very similar to about twenty years ago. The four competitors are perhaps still a little bit above for their position and tradition, but this Rome can now compete with all of them. Without fear.

Roma are now in the lead after four games tied with Atalanta. A positive fact that brings enthusiasm and conviction, even if at the moment it matters little, with a tangle of teams in a handkerchief with a few points of distance. It is played match by match, starting from the next match against Udinese you will need a proof of maturity. The important thing is to remain calm and cohesive in the group, to continue on this path, now even more so with the new reinforcements arrived. Gallo Belotti already a fan favorite, and Mady Camara, the plunger to replace Gini Wjinaldum. Hoping not to run into other injuries, the real scourge of this period, with Zaniolo, El Sharaawy and Kumbulla now stopped in the pits.

Mourinho has a complete team, the icing on the cake would have been the defender but at this point he goes on like this until January, with Solbakken already booked for the attack. It is a Rome that makes you dream but always down to earth, we have already won the Scudetto in August several times over the years, the championship is long and the state of form changes. There will be ups and downs, you need to stay attached to the leading train until the World Cup in november-december, then grind it from January onwards. Calm and Forza Roma!

0 Roma-Feyenoord

27 Maggio 2022
Stefano Sale
· AS Roma Corner

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.

0 Weekly review

22 Maggio 2022
Stefano Sale
· APP · AS Roma Corner · Rubriche

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.

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