Chiesa Di Totti - Serie A, Matchday 38: Spezia vs. RomaCautiously Optimistic Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48469/totti-fave.png2021-05-24T14:00:00+02:00http://www.chiesaditotti.com/rss/stream/222133502021-05-24T14:00:00+02:002021-05-24T14:00:00+02:00Sinners & Saints: Spezia 2, Roma 2
<figure>
<img alt="Football Serie A Roma-SS Lazio" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/58THfpvaHpEw5c-ZMgQZiBvnwLs=/0x0:2362x1575/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69333262/1318589173.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A second-half surge saved a few halos in our final player ratings piece of the season. </p> <p id="F0df4t">Slow starts, defensive miscues, misplaced shots, poor setpiece defending, questionable subs, impeccable hair, and a too little too late second-half turnaround; this match had all the hallmarks of your classic Paulo Fonseca fixture. In his final match at the helm of <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">AS Roma</a>, Paulo Fonseca failed to inspire his squad to loftier heights, dropping points to Spezia for the second time this season, ending his Roma career on a dour note. </p>
<p id="9l8FtX">Yesterday's stakes may have been on par with a seven-year-old’s mini golf birthday party, but Roma gave the word apathy an entirely new meaning. We've endured some brutal matches over the past year or so, but I can't recall the last time Roma looked <em>that </em>disinterested. </p>
<p id="8GVylY">However, thanks to some inspired play from Stephan El Shaarawy and Daniel Fuzato, and a lucky break towards the end, Roma was able to rescue a point from their final match of the season, securing a place in the playoff round for next season's inaugural Europa Conference League.</p>
<p id="UlW5sn">So, for the last time this season, join me as we pass out some halos and sharpen our pitchforks.</p>
<h2 id="2eurDL">The Sinners</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Spezia Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/-VgF16L_w4BF85SBIrNGjoTq5ic=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22534852/1233071082.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h3 id="XOzflo">Ebrima Darboe</h3>
<p id="fXpW5r">Hey, when you live by the sword, you die by the sword. Okay, so that well-worn saying doesn't <em>exactly </em>apply to this situation, but if yesterday's match proved anything, it's this: Ebrima Darboe is actually a 19-year-old learning his trade on the fly and not the second coming of Yaya Toure—at least not yet.</p>
<p id="J3r36m">Yanked after an hour on the pitch, Darboe struggled in nearly all aspects of his job, getting dribbled past, losing duels, and committing costly turnovers, one of which led to Daniele Verde's opening goal.</p>
<p id="UVNaXj">Make no mistake, Darboe remains a highly-touted prospect, but we'd all be better served by tempering our expectations in the short term.</p>
<h3 id="TfA0dZ">Borja Mayoral</h3>
<p id="dTQuMP">Roma's leading scorer (all comps) ended his first year with the club on a down note, struggling to impact the match in an hour of action. Borja drew two fouls and had one shot on goal, but apart from that, he was missing in action. As the club transitions to the José Mourinho era, Mayoral's role is perhaps more tenuous than any current squad member. He'll need to be more consistent and more aggressive if he wants to keep his place under The Special One next season.</p>
<h3 id="gSvMEu">Marash Kumbulla</h3>
<p id="3Te8z6">90 minutes captured in one image...</p>
<div id="tVOSGL">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is Kumbulla throwing this game? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpeziaRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpeziaRoma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SerieA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SerieA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SerieATIM?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SerieATIM</a> <a href="https://t.co/BEudiRM1qJ">pic.twitter.com/BEudiRM1qJ</a></p>— seantiziani (@tottitoday) <a href="https://twitter.com/tottitoday/status/1396543565782736899?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="njPF5v">I was one of the many who were <em>HYPED </em>by this signing last summer, but Kumbulla's first year with Roma was incredibly uneven, and with a defensive manager/hardass like Mourinho taking over, he will likely be under enormous pressure to find a consistent role under Roma's new manager. Kumbulla wasn't atrocious yesterday, but, much like Mayoral, his troubles were on full display—Mourinho may not be quite as patient or understanding as Fonseca. </p>
<h2 id="czDyHO">The Saints</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Spezia Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7BsHeMi9J79dZc1CYvuNOhhFiCk=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22534870/1233070321.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<h3 id="anVsRC">Stephan El Shaarawy</h3>
<p id="H6Icr0">Finally! After 10 appearances, El Shaarawy registered his first Serie A goal since returning to Roma in January. In addition to his 52nd-minute strike, El Shaarawy fired four shots on goal (three on target), chipped in one key pass, pulled off three successful dribbles, and contributed two tackles and two interceptions for good measure. And while there is no way to precisely quantify this, he led the club in the successful giving of shits yesterday. </p>
<p id="XEc88j"><em>This </em>was the El Shaarawy we know and love. </p>
<h3 id="Ubtgfc">Henrikh Mkhitaryan</h3>
<p id="vczwMr">Given his somewhat contentious past with José Mourinho, Mkhitaryan's future with the club remains foggy but yesterday he reminded us all how important he was to Roma's successes the past two years—however small they might have been. In 90 minutes against Spezia, Mkhitaryan rattled off four shots (three on target), contributed two key passes, two dribbles, drew two fouls, won three tackles, and, of course, scored a late equalizer to secure seventh place in the process. </p>
<p id="UHWzVy">If he can repair his relationship with Mourinho, Mkhitaryan figures to be central to Roma's plans next season. If not, please God, let him leave Serie A altogether. </p>
<h3 id="NQ0tLa">Daniel Fuzato</h3>
<p id="rPqtnp">Juan Musso, Alessio Cragno, Rui Patrico, Mike Maignan. Roma has no shortage of rumored transfer targets in goal next year, but Daniel Fuzato has made the most of his late-season audition, making the case for <em>actual </em>playing time next season, be it in Rome or elsewhere. Despite conceding two goals, neither of which were really savable given Roma's defensive miscues, Fuzato made six saves, including five in the box, and looked like a caged tiger let loose anytime the ball came in the six-yard box. </p>
<p id="cgPuAi">I find it hard to hide my bias with Fuzato—there's just something about him I <em>really </em>like—but objectively speaking, this kid has all the tools to be a successful keeper in Italy.</p>
<h3 id="1TwVTx">Gianluca Mancini</h3>
<p id="gVG8VT">I know, I know. We've spent this entire piece ragging on the defense, but, just as he has all year, Mancini kept the backline afloat. In 90 minutes yesterday, mini Materazzi had one shot on goal, completed 90% of his 115 passes, blocked one shot, cleared eight balls, and picked off five passes. But, perhaps most impressive of all, he completed 11 of 19 long passes—Mourinho is going to <em>love </em>this guy.</p>
<h2 id="myya2z">Stuck In Between</h2>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Javier Pastore of As Roma during warm up before the Serie A..." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/reiTNt4TN-xU1Yu1AVmStkH7Vt8=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22534876/1232870488.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="WuFUs4"><strong>Bryan Cristante</strong>: I'll have to run the numbers, but it feels like Cristante has been our most frequent In-Betweener this season (great show, btw). Cristante set up two shots yesterday and was a perfect two-for-two on crosses but failed to truly make his mark against Spezia.</p>
<p id="AX7Z84"><strong>Javier Pastore</strong>: Seeing him on the pitch still reminds me of the scene in <em>Signs </em>where the aliens are first spotted creeping around a child's birthday party, but El Flaco's 20-minute cameo yesterday was pretty impressive: 20 touches, two key passes (which were “big chances”) and won three ground duels. On the flip side, he coughed the ball up four times in only 20 minutes. </p>
<p id="TuSFDE"><strong>Rick Karsdorp:</strong> One key pass, two tackles, three clearances, and tremendous restraint to not throttle someone in the first half. A solid ending to a really special season for Karsdrop—another guy who could <em>excel </em>under Mourinho.</p>
<p id="PABDHM">Well, that's it for Sinners & Saints for the 2020-2021 season. Stay tuned for our season reviews all this week—starting in a couple of hours, as a matter of fact. </p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/24/22450423/spezia-2-roma-2-player-ratingsbren2021-05-24T01:30:00+02:002021-05-24T01:30:00+02:00Spezia 2, Roma 2: Match Highlights
<figure>
<img alt="Spezia Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/tFQIGV7nUQyLzuS-X1uAb0fVNcY=/0x0:2997x1998/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69331862/1233070488.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Highlights of Roma’s draw with Spezia, which sees the Giallorossi enter next season’s Europa Conference League.</p> <p id="FGgDi1"><a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">Roma</a> never looked right from the kick-off tonight, with Spezia pressing Roma high in the <em>giallorosso</em> half straight from the get-go. From that point on, half of Roma’s back six players were trying to out-do one another for the worst performance of the night—or maybe even the season.</p>
<p id="M6bMks">Short, weak passes to teammates who are already marked? Check. Slipping on the pitch just when your team least needs you to? Check. Closing down your man aggressively only to get nutmugged for trying? Kumbulla’s performance, amongst many others, exemplified Roma’s approach to this game in the first half: Scared lifeless and hoping someone would put an end to the match. </p>
<p id="SU16EV">Spezia goalscorers Daniele Verde (yes, him again) and Tommasa Pobega duly obliged, putting the home side firmly in the ascendancy by half-time. It was also a minor miracle that Rick Karsdorp’s frustration didn’t get the better off him, as he could have easily racked up yellows to spare in the first 45. </p>
<p id="2wQfHb">Roma responded at the break by bringing on Bryan Reynolds to play on the left flank for the second half and, thankfully, Stephan El Shaarawy taking no more than seven second-half minutes to slam a ball into the net and halve Spezia’s lead. </p>
<p id="E1FrBk">The Roma goal scored finally gave some life and energy to the match as a contest. Fonseca’s side began ramping up the pressure further, finding joy through Rick Karsdorp’s crossing down the right flank before Fonseca subbed off Mayoral and Darboe for Dzeko and Villar at the hour-mark.</p>
<p id="OHacGH">But it was Roma’s next substitute, Javier Pastore, who put it on a plate for Bryan Cristante with a quarter of an hour left, and yet the Spezia keeper denied Cristante. Try as Spezia might to defend their slim lead, Roma wouldn’t be kept out by full-time.</p>
<p id="4lSHaN">Roma spent the last half-hour keeping Spezia firmly pushed back in their own half and using the distraction of fireworks going off around the stadium to equalize in the 86th minute, thanks to Edin Dzeko bringing down a ball in the air to assist Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s goal. And that was all she wrote for this season.</p>
<p id="2CbDWl">Roma finishes the league campaign by grafting a draw against Spezia and clawing their way into the Europa Conference League qualifiers. Take that, José Mourinho.</p>
<div id="rbAhZc"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P7Mc09gjqWc?rel=0" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/24/22450263/spezia-2-roma-2-match-highlightsdallagente2021-05-23T22:58:45+02:002021-05-23T22:58:45+02:00Second Half Surge Rescues Draw for Roma in Fonseca's Farewell Match
<figure>
<img alt="Spezia Calcio v AS Roma - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vDkYEuBi2mHnxZNcin5DA-IqQkU=/3x0:3000x1998/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69331442/1233071069.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>After a PUTRID first half, Roma scratched their way back into the match, earning a draw and a place in next season's inaugural UEFA Conference League in the process. </p> <p id="NoOXx2">Today's Matchday 38 fixture against Spezia had a definitive air of finality to it. Not only was this the final match of the 2020-2021 Serie A season, but it was also Paulo Fonseca's last game in charge of Roma, not to mention Serie A's final broadcast on ESPN. And with nothing to play for other than a spot in the UEFA Conference League, this match almost felt like the last day of high school: nothing really matters, your motivation disappeared weeks ago and you're just anxious to move on with your life but you can't completely phone it in or tell your teacher to take a long walk off a short pier because you still need that diploma. </p>
<p id="L59pje">Throw in <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">Roma's</a> gaggle of injured players, the ones playing their final match with the club, and the few who are keeping an eye next month's Euros, and the Giallorossi were pretty much on auto-pilot from the word go. And it wouldn't take long for that apathy to bite Roma in the ass. After a brief feeling-out period, Spezia quickly made Roma suffer for their lack of energy and interest. </p>
<p id="fRXxHk">Ebrima Darboe has been a revelation of Roma's past two matches, showing a level of poise and composure that belies his 19 years, but today was a lesson in patience for the young midfielder. In a span of roughly 90 seconds, Darboe committed two turnovers, both of which produced Spezia attempts on goal. While Darboe was able to recover from his first gaffe, racing back to actually erase M'Bala Nzola's attempt, he had no such luck the second time around, gifting Daniele Verde a sixth-minute goal—one Fuzato had no chance of stopping. </p>
<p id="syRfJf">And, as one might expect given everything you just read, Roma didn't exactly respond well to that turn of events—and neither did we...</p>
<div id="ivDJmB">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">These next 85 minutes are going to be agonizing</p>— Chiesa di Totti (@chiesaditotti) <a href="https://twitter.com/chiesaditotti/status/1396540475310551044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<div id="kfwIW0">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Oi...just blow the final whistle now, please.</p>— Chiesa di Totti (@chiesaditotti) <a href="https://twitter.com/chiesaditotti/status/1396543508937330690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="Hxo0Ku">I wish there were more positive news to report from the first half of this match, but it's been a long time since we've seen a Roma side so desperate to throw in the towel and head home. Daniel Fuzato did well to deny Spezia multiple times, but Roma's defense pulled another disappearing act late in the first half, giving Tommaso Pobega a free pass to score off a Daniele Verder corner.</p>
<p id="9MlkL6">Through the first 45 minutes, Spezia absolutely dominated Roma in nearly every facet. Things were looking bleak for Paulo Fonseca in his farewell match.</p>
<h2 id="K2uccx">Second Half</h2>
<p id="JhHeP3">As the kids say, I'll keep it 100 with you. This first half was so incredibly dispiriting that it felt like a fitting end to an incredibly long and trying year, both on and off the pitch for the club, me, and I would imagine for many of you as well. As such, this review is a little light on nuance, so please accept my apologies.</p>
<p id="COHZwZ">The second half was <em>barely </em>more passable than the first: Stephan El Shaarawy jumped on a loose ball in the box to pull a goal back in the 52nd minute but Roma's efforts would wax and wane for the ensuing 30 to 35 minutes before Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored an equalizer in the 85th minute, one that Spezia keeper Rafael woefully misjudged if we're being honest, but that's the nature of the beast. After slogging through 80 minutes of the match, Roma finally caught a bit of a break when Rafael miss-timed his attempted save. </p>
<p id="fBYc46">And what a break it was. With this draw, Roma finishes the season with 19 victories and 62 points, even with Sassuolo but the Giallorossi will take part in the first-ever UEFA Conference League next season after they edged out the Neroverdi on goal differential.</p>
<h2 id="xSf7aP">Final Thoughts</h2>
<p id="TpiV5q">Hey, if nothing else, this match was a fitting encapsulation of Roma's two years under Paulo Fonseca, so we wouldn't really have it any other way, would we?</p>
<p id="A6Rt6M">Look for our season review coverage, including our official goodbye to Fonseca, all next week. </p>
<h2 id="P9mPqN">Up Next</h2>
<p id="zV6T1p">The men's season may be over, but I <em><strong>implore </strong></em>you to tune in next Sunday when the women take on <a href="https://acmilan.theoffside.com">AC Milan</a> in the 2021 Coppa Italia Femminile finale!</p>
<p id="jMy890"></p>
<p id="8YBeS3"></p>
<p id="hkHAx1"></p>
<p id="kIYYmA"></p>
<p id="haeOxv"></p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/23/22450213/spezia-2-roma-2-match-reviewbren2021-05-23T19:47:12+02:002021-05-23T19:47:12+02:00Spezia vs. Roma: Lineups & Game Thread
<figure>
<img alt="FC Internazionale v AS Roma - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z79A9_7WRTxzz-UbNCZ4lu-99gI=/0x0:2562x1708/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69331016/1317760229.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>It's Farewell Fonseca day as Roma takes on Spezia in the final match of the season.</p> <p id="5mYvmx">This is it, we've finally reached the end of the 2020-2021 Serie A season. After nearly eight interminable months, this unprecedented season is coming to a merciful conclusion. Roma fell well short of qualifying for the Champions League next season, but a victory over Spezia today would ensure that Roma are still playing in Europe next year—in the newly contrived UEFA Conference League, so that's...something.</p>
<p id="obwITz">We'll save the debate on the merits of the Conference League for another today. Today's match against Spezia is a bittersweet celebration of sorts, as the club bids farewell to Paulo Fonseca. The Man From Mozambique's two-year tenure in Rome wasn't as successful as anyone had hoped, but you seldom heard a negative word spoken about Fonseca, so there are sure to be some emotional scenes following today's match.</p>
<p id="hpzBus">The lineups are in, so let's see if Roma sends Fonseca out a winner!</p>
<h2 id="Ii0sI3">Lineups</h2>
<div id="eOqUQD">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <br> <br>Final starting XI of the season - let's do this!<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASRoma</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpeziaRoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SpeziaRoma</a> <a href="https://t.co/chktnE3U5T">pic.twitter.com/chktnE3U5T</a></p>— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ASRomaEN/status/1396522653536632842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>
<p id="fgsyNp"></p>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/23/22450081/spezia-vs-roma-lineups-game-threadbren2021-05-22T23:21:32+02:002021-05-22T23:21:32+02:00Probable Formations: Spezia vs Roma
<figure>
<img alt="AS Roma v SS Lazio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H4z74tX1TMPHXOFYjndf7GV4FYQ=/1x0:3000x1999/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69328989/1232914453.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Giuseppe Maffia/NurPhoto via Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Giallorossi will have plenty of absences in Paulo Fonseca’s swan song as Roma manager. </p> <p id="1ESlkn"><a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">As Roma</a> looks ahead to the era of one Portuguese tactician, the era of another comes to an unceremonious end. Paulo Fonseca will write his last team sheet as Roma manager tomorrow when the Giallorossi travel to Spezia to close out the 2020-2021 campaign. </p>
<p id="jCZ0yC">For what it’s worth, the Giallorossi are still playing for a European place in what feels like a meaningless match. How you view this match likely depends on whether or not you’d like Roma to finish ahead of Sassuolo and qualify for the UEFA Conference League. Fonseca talked about the importance of victory during his final pre-match press conference. </p>
<p id="dJEJHz">However, he will have a long list of absentees to deal with as he tries to end his tenure with a victory. In this one, the Giallorossi will be without Lorenzo Pellegrini, Roger Ibañez, Chris Smalling, Leonardo Spinazzola, Amadou Diawara, Jordan Veretout, Pau Lopez, Carles Perez, Riccardo Calafiori, and Nicoló Zaniolo. That’s 10, count ‘em, 10 players ruled out for this one. </p>
<p id="denUms">Roma is expected to again play a 4-2-3-1 formation, which has become the preferred formation in recent weeks. Daniel Fuzato will have one more chance to impress in goal after a strong derby outing last weekend. In front of him Gianluca Mancini and Max Kumbulla will center the defense. Flanking them will be Rick Karsdorp on the right and likely Bruno Peres on the left. </p>
<p id="SQaEfp">Moving into the midfield, Bryan Cristante will start in the double pivot. Gonzalo Villar is expected to flank him. Meanwhile, in the attacking midfield Henrikh Mkhitaryan should take the central role with Pellegrini ruled out. </p>
<p id="fBM7Ss">On the wings, Stephan El Shaarawy is expected to start on the left with Pedro starting on the right. Rounding out the XI will he one of Borja Mayoral or Edin Dzeko. With this likely being the end of the Dzeko era in Rome, I could see the Bosnian Diamond getting the nod. </p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/uprESsnytfGBEjbSmFGJtYofqpU=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22533210/1D9BD779_318F_46D6_9CDE_67600A225CF7.png">
<cite>createformation.com</cite>
<figcaption>CDT Projected XI vs Spezia </figcaption>
</figure>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/22/22449233/probable-formations-spezia-vs-romassciavillo2021-05-22T17:32:05+02:002021-05-22T17:32:05+02:00Roma Face Spezia In Last Match of Paulo Fonseca’s Tenure
<figure>
<img alt="AS Roma v SS Lazio - Serie A" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GhRdbhsvwh0IbfOXvOtkTiXvW9c=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69328180/1318187989.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Silvia Lore/Getty Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Giallorossi won convincingly against Lazio in the last home match of the season; can they end things the same way for the whole rigamarole?</p> <p id="fRIc9U">Barring the season here and there where <em>everything</em> comes down to the last matchday, the final match of the season can often be a bit anticlimactic. <a href="https://www.chiesaditotti.com">Roma</a>’s place in the table is relatively secure, they’re not one of the three clubs jousting for <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/champions-league">Champions League</a> placing, and to be frank, nearly everyone’s mind is already on the summer <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/transfer-rumors">transfer window</a>. We’re already at the point in silly season where a striker following José Mourinho on Instagram means that journalists write articles claiming he’s already on a flight to Fiumicino Airport. </p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="2Z0zxZ">
<p id="peNYNd"><strong>Spezia vs. Roma</strong>: May 23rd. 20:45 CET/2:45 EDT. Stadio Picco, Spezia.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="o6thIm">
<p id="IlLip5">While you shouldn’t expect the transfer rumors to get any less crazy over the next couple of months, maybe you can take solace in one last actual football match before the summer truly gets going. I know I will.</p>
<h2 id="D3N0Cx">Last Match</h2>
<h3 id="wEWLh4">January 23rd: Roma 4, Spezia 3</h3>
<div id="rViWr1"><div style="left: 0; width: 100%; height: 0; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G9WY_C8iD28?rel=0&%3Bstart=1&start=1" style="border: 0; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;" allowfullscreen="" scrolling="no" allow="encrypted-media; accelerometer; clipboard-write; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe></div></div>
<p id="ngsJDm">Matchday Nineteen in Serie A went a <em>whole </em>lot better for the Giallorossi than their flameout in the Coppa Italia against this same Spezia side a few days prior. A goal from Lorenzo Pellegrini sealed a rather free-flowing and high-scoring affair, but it would be remiss to ignore the brace from Borja Mayoral that put Roma in the position to be winning this one at all. Leonardo Spinazzola also had quite a match, suggesting that maybe his dentist was right about that whole “keeping your teeth healthy keeps the ACL tears away” business. Here’s what bren had to say post-match:</p>
<blockquote><p id="QrRSQ0">Roma needed a win today, simple as that. And while it took a herculean effort to defeat newly promoted Spezia, a win was precisely what Roma got, albeit a far more dramatic one than anyone had anticipated. There were still the usual concerns—some sloppy defending at the back, particularly in terms of clearances, while Pau Lopez was, well, Pau Lopez—but you have to love the spirit with which Roma played, particularly after every conceded goal, but especially after Verde’s late equalizer. In each instance, Roma came storming back, hunting for a goal, and could have easily put five or six past Spezia.</p></blockquote>
<p id="3go8We">The Giallorossi don’t necessarily <em>need</em> a win today in the same way they did in the first match of this tie, but nevertheless, it would be nice for all involved to tie this season up in a nice little bow with a win over a minnow-like Spezia.</p>
<h2 id="OPKaO4">What To Watch For</h2>
<h3 id="6O7yc1">Fonseca’s Last Match</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="FBL-ITA-SERIEA-ROMA-LAZIO" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/z08M5OT0_0X53xrDSxaYD4QE4EY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22532800/1232912667.jpg">
<cite>Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="0d1wld">Of course, the end of Roma’s season also means that Paulo Fonseca’s time with the Giallorossi is coming to a close. Fonseca has been incredibly professional about the parting of the ways, saying recently that</p>
<blockquote><p id="WhzGVX">I am proud to have been the Roma coach, I’ve learned a lot here. Fans have always been kind to me, I leave Roma, but the club and these fans remain in my heart... Probably the nicest thing is the relationship I’ve created with people (around the club), with you journalists, with the fans and everyone who’s worked with me over the last two years. It was a respectful and honest relationship.</p></blockquote>
<p id="utWJg0">This is probably the first time since Rudi Garcia that a manager has come in to Rome and left with a better reputation than they had before. One of the reasons you can tell that’s true is the wide variety of jobs Fonseca is already linked to for his next move: Tottenham, Wolves, and <a href="https://www.violanation.com">Fiorentina</a> all appear interested in bringing him on as a manager. A lot of that goodwill probably comes down to the relationships Fonseca mentions in that quote; he has always seemed to work well with others, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a bad word about him personally come from anyone even tangentially associated with the club. </p>
<p id="3QOmzm">We’ll have more on Fonseca’s Farewell coming in the next few days, but don’t be surprised to see the squad play with a little more <em>oomph</em> this weekend to send Fonseca off on the right foot. That certainly seemed to help in the Derby.</p>
<h3 id="yoXgP6">Darboe, Darboe, Darboe</h3>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Football Serie A Roma-SS Lazio" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K5Pz9MdKIB8rH9_x0WUmVa3GZeM=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22532798/1318588398.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Massimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images</cite>
</figure>
<p id="1vnbm5">Besides the signing of José Mourinho, the biggest story of the tail end of Roma’s season has been the breakout of Ebrima Darboe. With rumors suggesting that he will play a role in Mourinho’s new-look Roma side this fall <em>and</em> that a contract renewal is in the offing, it would be smart to bet on seeing a lot more of Darboe over the next season or two. </p>
<p id="yO8fvR">Again, this match <em>itself</em> isn’t too important for Roma in the grand scheme of things, but another chance to see the Gambian midfielder lace up for the Giallorossi is as good a reason as any to watch Roma right now (for however long that can last: that same rumor mill pointing to a renewal for the teenager is <em>also</em> suggesting that clubs like Arsenal and Tottenham are looking to sign him, so who knows how long he stays in a Giallorossi kit).</p>
<div id="Rt1leU"><div data-anthem-component="poll:10513579"></div></div>
https://www.chiesaditotti.com/2021/5/22/22448895/spezia-roma-match-previewJimmy Miotto