Too much, all at once. Three points in four games, Saelemaekers out for two months with a fractured right ankle, Zalewski on the fence between a return and a farewell, Pellegrini in serious doubt for the match against Udinese due to a contusion to his right knee with an effusion and, last but not least, Dan and Ryan in Rome to understand (probably) how to get out of this vortex.
The challenge against Genoa has rekindled doubts that had already emerged in the previous season, hidden under the sand between the summer break and the flow of events.
Last year, Roma finished in sixth place: a championship that started off on the uphill slope with only 5 points in six games under Mourinho, a squad that was too short to face all the competitions and, no less important, a project based on the instant team, which proved to be not very functional.
This year, however, the basics have changed. A market worth over 110 million euros, a longer and younger roster, and a well-defined project. But there is still one piece missing: a liaison figure, capable of managing communication with the media and acting as a ‘lightning rod’ for the team. A crucial role to protect the club and coach from external pressure and uncomfortable questions, allowing them to focus only on the pitch.
Daniele De Rossi must focus solely on how to manage the matches and bring results, without further distractions or interference. Without clashes, external pressures and thoughts given by ‘excessive mice’.
Now that every piece of the puzzle seems to be in its place, it’s time to give continuity to the project and consolidate the progress made. Calm, determination and confidence are needed: this is where Roma can start again, leaving the shadows of the past behind and aiming for a future that lives up to expectations.