Is Luis Enrique Losing Control At Roma?
Lazio have enjoyed an outstanding start whereas Roma have struggled badly. After the Sensi era ended in the capital, new owner Thomas Di Benedetto was brought in with fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a transfer budget as was a new manager in promising young Spaniard Luis Enrique.
He set about revitalising the squad with what seemed like some very astute signings in Bojan Krkic, Simon Kjaer, Miralem Pjanic, Maarten Stekelenburg, Fernando Gago, Pablo Osvaldo and Erik Lamela.
It seemed that this season was going to be one in which the Giallorossi set about establishing themselves once more as a credible Scudetto-challenging outfit. However, things have not at all gone to plan for Roma and Luis Enrique.
In fact, things have gone so badly that reports in Italy suggested that a crisis meeting took place yesterday between the man in charge and the directors at Trigoria (Roma’s training ground) in which he managed to convince the hierarchy that he is the right man for the job.
The team though have been nothing short in awful with their poor results on the field not being the only problem for Enrique as he continues to deal with dissent, petulance and other off the field troubles not making the former Barcelona B boss’ job any easier.
Off the field, last week’s dressing room incident in which Osvaldo punched his Argentine teammate Lamela for not passing him the ball during the defeat to Udinese before telling him that “you are not Maradona” was enough to indicate that Enrique perhaps does not have as tight a rein over his team as he should do but after the antics of Bojan at the weekend, it seems the Spaniard has definitely lost control of the dressing room.
Antonio Conte too is still a very young, inexperienced manager who, like Enrique, has taken on the demanding task of one of the biggest jobs in Italy and one that comes with its own particular pressure.
But would one of the Juventus players have dared to assault a teammate or throw their jersey to the ground in disgust as Bojan did against Fiorentina? No, because Conte commands a certain respect and discipline from his players. Something that unfortunately seems to be lacking for i Lupi at the moment.
Even when it comes down to footballing matters, things have been equally bleak for Roma. Every time that the team seem to be gathering a bit of momentum, they lose it almost immediately.
It has been a classic case of ‘one step forward then two steps back’ for them this season. A stuttering start was followed up with two straight wins before derby defeat set Enrique’s ‘project’ back further.
Unconvincing wins last month over Novara and Lecce seemed to signal hope which was short lived as they slumped to two successive defeats on the road to Udinese and Fiorentina.
The Udinese loss was by no means a calamitous result because the Zebrette have been fantastic this season and are more than deserving of their lofty position in the Serie A standings.
However, if there was one team aside from Roma (and Inter obviously) who have massively underperformed this season then it is Fiorentina. The Viola have been weak at the back and static in attack and it ultimately led to the sacking of Sinisa Mihaijlovic.
Yet they stormed to an easy 3-0 victory over Roma in which their dreadful defending was combined with an outrageous display of ill-discipline, another indication that Enrique cannot control the group at his disposal.
During the defeat in Tuscany, not only did the team manage to ship three goals, create few clear cut chances, bring out a childish strop in Bojan but also had three players sent off to compound the misery for Enrique.
The fans were quick to voice their displeasure at the performance and have actively been campaigning for the manager’s sacking but he seems safe for the future at least and vice-captain Daniele De Rossi has assured fans to “give Enrique time” but he will need to reassert his control over his club, and fast, if he is to be afforded that luxury.
Follow Padraig Whelan on Twitter @PWhelan88 and be sure to check out padraigwhelan.wordpress.com
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