Coach Rudi Garcia has transformed Roma from last season’s bickering, erratic outfit into one of the toughest sides in Serie A, yet despite all the changes they are clearly not the same without Francesco Totti in the team.
The numbers speak for themselves.
With the 37-year-old talisman playing, Roma won their first seven league games of the season, scoring 20 goals at an average of nearly three a game. Since his thigh injury, their last six matches have produced three wins, three draws and only six goals.
One club-man Totti, who limped off in the first half of the 2-0 win over Napoli on Oct. 18, is in a remarkable 22nd season at Roma and shows no signs of letting up.
Playing just behind the forwards, his ability to find space, produce a defence-splitting pass or rifle in a long-distance goal from out of the blue means he is still hugely influential on the team.
Described by Garcia as “a humble guy like all the great players”, Totti, who scored three goals and produced eight assists before the Napoli game, is not expected to return for at least another two weeks.
In the meantime, Garcia will have to hope that Gervinho and Miralem Pjanic can provide some inspiration in Totti’s absence.
The Frenchman had apparently adapted well to Serie A but this week admitted he was taken aback by the media attention in Italy,
“After the match, it takes me an hour to get to the media conference with the written press,” Garcia said.
“I have to answer questions from four television stations, in an exact order, and one radio.
“What took me 15 minutes to do at Lille takes me one hour here.”
Garcia has closed off training sessions, banning even the club’s own television channel from filming, in an attempt to relieve the pressure.
“I had to pull down the blinds,” he said.
“There were old, bad habits, but everyone has adapted quickly. It was indispensable so that we could work and I could protect the group.”
Roma have drawn their last three Serie A games against modest opponents Torino, Sassuolo and Cagliari and face more mid-table opposition tomorrow when they travel to Atalanta, currently on the 16-point mark.
Monday’s goalless draw at home to Cagliari meant the Giallo-rossi were knocked off the top of the table for the first time this season and replaced by defending champions Juventus who are one point ahead.
Juventus, who have won their last five games without conceding a goal since their 4-2 defeat to Fiorentina, host Udinese tomorrow evening.
“Our results have improved over the last month and a half, but I don’t think the performances were that different,” said coach Antonio Conte.
“When you get the slap in the face we did against Fiorentina, it dented our pride.
“As I always say, I trust this team because I have great men even more than great players, so they know when something is wrong and are critical of their own performances.”
Milan, who moved out of crisis mode with a 3-0 Champions League win at Celtic on Tuesday, can put their troubles further behind them by winning at bottom club Catania in a midday kick-off tomorrow.
Fixtures
Serie A
Playing Today
Parma vs Bologna 18.00
Genoa vs Torino 20.45
Tomorrow
Atalanta vs Roma
Cagliari vs Sassuolo
Catania vs Milan 12.30
Chievo vs Livorno
Inter vs Sampdoria
Juventus vs Udinese 18.30
Monday
Fiorentina vs Verona 19.00
Lazio vs Napoli 21.00
Standings: Juventus 34; Roma 33; Napoli 28; Inter 26; Fiorentina 24; Verona 22; Genoa 18; Lazio 17; Parma, Atalanta, Udinese 16; Torino 15; Milan, Cagliari 14; Sassuolo 13; Livorno 12; Bologna 11; Sampdoria 10; Chievo, Catania 9.
Serie B
Played Yesterday
Empoli vs Brescia 2-2
Today – 15.00
Avellino vs Cesena
Latina vs Juve Stabia
Modena vs Siena
Padova vs Crotone
Palermo vs Novara
Pescara vs Carpi
Reggina vs Spezia
Trapani vs Lanciano
Varese vs Cittadella
Monday
Bari vs Ternana 20.30
Leading standings: Empoli 31; Lan-ciano 29; Palermo, Avellino 27; Cro-tone 26; Cesena 24; Latina 23.