Fabio Capello launched Daniele De Rossi’s playing career in Roma 23 years ago, and last week, he gave the Roma coach a new nickname: The Smart One. It took De Rossi eight weeks to completely turn around the atmosphere, the results, the ambitions and the narrative around AS Roma.The former Giallorossi midfielder went from a caretaker position to a long-term solution within the speed of light and with the support of the audience, which, until recently, believed that it was impossible to replace Jose Mourinho.UEL: Dybala and Lukaku shoot down Seagulls in RomeAlbeit labelled The Special One, Mou didn’t live up to his nickname in the Eternal City. He was just a shadow of the former self, who won two Champions Leagues. Arrogance can be seductive and even endearing if the winner is at the helm. Otherwise, it becomes pathetic.The difference between De Rossi and Mourinho is best seen in the reactions to problematic refereeing decisions. Mourinho stimulated his associates and players on the bench to protest, shout, and create pressure, while De Rossi doesn’t allow anyone to do so apart from himself.No nonsense DDR: “Roma must qualify with or without Dybala and Lukaku’s goals”The Roma owners, the Friedkin family, were lucky, brave and almost quite cunning. They were lucky because De Rossi was free on the market. They were brave because they trusted that debutant (De Rossi spent a couple of months on the bench of Spala in Serie B) and cunning because they appointed the last Roma legend as the head of the coaching staff. With any other coach on the bench, protests would have been inevitable, and the conflict with the fans fierce. With De Rossi, even if things had gone wrong, no one would criticize them excessively for giving Roma’s faithful warrior a chance.##NAJAVA_MECA_7950841##The new Giallorossi coach of Roma made a couple of logical moves: he switched to a formation with four defenders, entrusted Paredes with the keys of the game, restored the confidence of captain Pellegrini, galvanized Dybala by saying that he’s “his Totti”, revitalized some forgotten footballers, replaced pale Rui Patricio with amazing Svilar… Last but not least, Lukaku has been revived, finally finding the back of the net like a striker of his ilk always should have.This resurrected Roma are now facing Brighton and Hove Albion in the return leg of the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, after battering them 4-0 in the opening leg at Stadio Olimpico in Rome a week ago.🎙“Difesa a 3 o a 4 domani?”🐺 #DeRossi: “Non too dico”#RomaBrighton pic.twitter.com/3LR7cDmrwp— Radio Romanista (@radio_romanista) March 6, 2024 This should be a genuine dead rubber, a coronation of De Rossi after he did an impressive job in the first part of this battle, destroying Roberto De Zerbi’s aura. The times have changed, and this is the time for The Smart One.UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE – ROUND OF 16Return legThursday 20.45: (3.15) Slavia Praha (3.45) Milan (2.25)20.45: (2.30) Villareal (3.50) Olympique Marseille (3.00)20.45: (2.95) Rangers (3.50) Benfica (2.35)20.45: (1.70) West Ham (3.60) Freiburg (5.30)23.00: (1.20) Leverkusen (7.25) Qarabag (12.0)23.00: (1.30) Liverpool (5.90) Sparta Praha (9.00)23.00: (1.80) Brighton (3.60) Roma (4.60)23.00: (2.00) Atalanta (3.50) Sporting (3.70)***odds are subject to change***
