AS Roma have endured a mixed first-half of the 205-16 season, with coach Rudi Garcia under immense pressure and some fans boycotting home games.
Story So Far
With reigning champions Juventus slipping up in the early weeks of the season, Roma looked in pole position to pick up the Scudetto baton. An impressive 2-1 home win against the Bianconeri broke the Giallorossi’s poor run against the Turin giants and was seen as ample evidence that Roma were best placed in the race for the Serie A title. Pacey wingers Gervinho and summer signing Mohamed Salah were taking the league by storm and at the time were Italy’s most deadly attack.
Yet the cracks appeared in away defeats to Inter and Sampdoria. Since beating city rivals Lazio in early November, Roma have only won one match in all competitions, scraping through the Champions League group stage with just six points from six games. Garcia’s men also suffered humiliation in the Coppa Italia, as they were knocked out by Serie B side Spezia on penalties at a nearly empty Stadio Olimpico. The Giallorossi have finished 2015 in fifth place on the Serie A table and four points behind Inter, now also behind slow starters Juventus.
The manager
Following recent poor performances and results, frenchman Rudi Garcia is under more pressure than he has ever faced in the Italian capital. Even the 2-0 home win against Genoa in the last game before the Christmas break could not relieve the mounting scrutiny on the former Lille coach. After a rather successful 2014, Roma have stuttered in the past 12 months. If the Serie A was done over a calendar year, Roma would be a massive 15 points Juventus and just one ahead of Lazio. What may worry Garcia most is that there are certainly no shortage of possible candidates to take charge at the Olimpico. World Cup winner Marcello Lippi could well come in as an interim figurehead, while Antonio Conte, Walter Mazzarri, Fabio Capello and Luciano Spalletti have all been linked with the club, undermining Garcia’s position in Rome. It would be a brave man to back Garcia to still be in charge by the start of next season.
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Standout player
Miralem Pjanic has been back to his best so far this season. Often overshadowed by Radja Nainggolan in the previous campaign, the Bosnian has excelled after the summer break. Last year Pjanic played in the World Cup in Brazil and had little rest before the domestic competition started again, yet this time around the former Lyon man has looked sharp. His has once again become the focal point of the side, providing a bucket load of assists and goals. From set pieces, Pjanic has been deadly and reaffirmed his status as one of the best dead ball specialists in the world.
One setback though was the needless red card in the defeat at the San Siro against Serie A leaders Inter. Pjanic has also missed several games due to injury and in those matches his absence was felt, indicating his importance to the Giallorossi.
What is next?
Roma have it all to do when the season starts again after the New Year. The Giallorossi face a tough trip to take on Chievo immediately after the break, then they face two massive games in the space of two weeks that may determine where they finish at the end of the season.
Roma host AC Milan before facing a taunting task when they head north to take on a revitalised Juventus. The Giallorossi also have a tough task in the Champions League as they have been drawn against 10 time champions Real Madrid. Whether it is Garcia at the helm or not, Roma have a near impossible task to save their season and more importantly, win over their disillusioned fans as well.
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