Roma Club Focus: Building from the back

Date: 27th October 2015 at 5:45pm
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Roma‘s win away to Fiorentina was not only important in taking them top of the Serie A table, it showed a defensive and gritty side to the Giallorossi that has been missing since Rudi Garcia’s first season in charge at the Stadio Olimpico.

Salah Roma Fiorentina

The Lupi’s defence has been the subject of much criticism this season, but the defensive masterclass at the Stadio Artemio Franchi showed signs that Garcia may be managing to revive the club’s fortunes. It is important for Roma not to get ahead of themselves.

Indeed, the great defensive performance in Florence only comes days after the Giallorossi shipped four goals away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League during a 4-4 draw. Nor does it make up for the fact that a 2-0 triumph away to Frosinone in early September represents their only clean sheet, even the allegedly beleaguered Juventus can boast of more clean sheets to date.

Roma’s title bid faltered last season due to a lack of cutting edge resulting in a staggering 13 draws.

When teams draw too many matches it is usually indicative of side’s that struggle to score enough goals, that is highlighted by the fact that the Giallorossi actually scored fewer goals last season than AC Milan who finished 10th.

Garcia had little option but to invest significantly in his attack during the summer. The signings of Edin Dzeko and Mohamed Salah are astute and mean Roma are much more dangerous in their attacking play.

Dzeko Roma Fiorentina

Nevertheless, achieving just one clean sheet from ten games is uncharacteristic of a Garcia side and demonstrates the struggle the Frenchman has endured in trying to break with his side’s ultra-conservatism without leaving Roma more vulnerable defensively.

The much maligned Antonio Rudiger was competent alongside Konstantinos Manolas, whilst full-backs Alessandro Florenzi and Lucas Digne displayed great energy in providing defensive cover.

The fact the Giallorossi had just 29 per cent of the possession demonstrates the extent of their defensive efforts, with the result only slightly ruined by the late dismissal of Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah.

Up until Sunday, Roma had failed to win any of their important away fixtures: defeated at Sampdoria in Serie A as well as falling 3-2 at BATE Borisov in the Champions League coupled with the defensive implosion in Germany on Tuesday. Conversely, the Viola had won all four of their opening home games in Serie A without conceding a goal.

Roma Bate Borisov

Defensive solidity is essential to win titles in any country as it allows teams to grind out results even when they are not particularly playing well. The result in Florence should act as a springboard for Roma to maintain a prolonged run of form that is sufficient enough to put clear water between them and their greatest challengers.

The Lupi now entertain Udinese at the Stadio Olimpico on Wednesday before encountering yet another key test when they travel to the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza to face Inter on Saturday.

Consistency will now be the key in determining their fate, but by better organising his defence, Garcia has arguably now established Roma as favourites for the Scudetto.

 

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