Group Stage Fan Preview: AS Roma

This past season saw a Spalletti-led Roma accrue the most points goals in their history as they finished second behind a historically strong Juventus. However, this second stint at Roma would not last long as Spalletti left Roma for Inter citing the pressure from the city and fans as a main reason. This wouldn’t be the Giallorossi’s only loss this summer as the team saw club legend Francesco Totti finally hang up his boots after twenty-five seasons with his childhood club while Mohamed Salah, Antonio Rüdiger, Wojciech Szczęsny and Leandro Paredes among others would leave the club for hefty fees

Not many teams Roma’s size would be able to cope with such losses but the arrival of Sevilla’s legendary sporting director Monchi has allowed the Giallorossi to remain competitive while also maintaining a profit in the transfer window. The arrivals of Cengiz Ünder, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Maxime Gonalons, Grégoire Defrel, Rick Kardsdorp, Aleksandar Kolarov, Héctor Moreno, and Patrik Schick has not only provided Roma with the quality depth they so desperately need to challenge on three fronts but have also found quality players for cheap prices.

Roma’s horrendous luck with UCL draws continues as they are drawn with Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and Qarabağ. Being in a group with both Chelsea and Atlético Madrid will make it very difficult for Roma to advance to the next stage. The Giallorossi will have to grab all six points from Qarabağ, grab a win or draw at home and away against Chelsea and Atlético, and hope Conte’s lack of success in the Champions League will see them qualify for the next round.

The appointment of former Roma player Eusebio Di Francesco is one of the wildcards for Roma’s season having previously managed only smaller albeit impressive sides such as Sassuolo. Di Francesco is an unfamiliar figure to those outside of Italy. A disciple of Zeman’s attacking football, he rarely deviates from a 4-3-3 unless out of necessity and will look to attack from the start of the match. His central midfielders shift out wide and look to cross it into the box while his wingers shift in, acting as inside forwards during counter-attacks and most offensive movements while one full back will bomb up the flank to provide width while the other will stay with the central defenders to form a back three. Di Francesco’s electric attack will be facing some of Europe’s most stringent and well-trained defenses in Atlético Madrid and Chelsea.