Roma look to pile pressure at the top

January 30, 2010

Roma are looking to pile further misery on strugglers Siena on Sunday in order to keep up the pressure on Serie A leaders Internazionale.

The Giallorossi expect to clinch their fifth win in six games against rock-bottom Siena and reduce their current 11-point deficit on Inter.

And with the prospect of climbing into second place above AC Milan, if the Rossoneri lose to Livorno, motivation will not be lacking for Claudio Ranieri’s men.

Ranieri and co have reason to be optimistic as his side followed their 2-1 win at Juventus with a 1-0 triumph over Catania in midweek to reach the Coppa Italia semi-finals.

“We can compete in all competitions if luck is on our side,” said Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta.

“We are humble and we have the determination to go all the way in all the competitions.

“We want to hand our fans great joy this campaign.

“Three months ago we were considered a group that couldn’t get the job done and now we are third in the standings and still alive in the Champions League and the Coppa Italia.

“We have to enjoy the moment.”

It is all the more pleasing for Roma considering they have had to cope without injured captain Francesco Totti since the start of the year.

However, the Giallorossi have shown no signs of slowing down, scoring six goals and giving away just one in their last three league games.

With Totti still out with a knee injury and striker Luca Toni also unavailable with a calf problem, Ranieri will rely on Mirko Vucinic and Julio Baptista to deliver in front of goal.

Tags: ac milan, captain Francesco Totti, catania, Claudio Ranieri, coppa italia, giallorossi, great joy, julio baptista, knee injury, league games, livorno, luca toni, midweek, Milan, Mirko Vucinic, point deficit, rock bottom, Roma, rossoneri, semi finals, Siena, Simone Perrotta, six games, Toni

Juve´s ´dead coach walking´ looks doomed

January 30, 2010

Ciro Ferrara’s troubled reign as Juventus coach could end this weekend, even before Sunday’s Serie A home clash against Lazio.

Ferrara’s position has looked increasingly untenable in recent weeks as his side have slipped to sixth in the standings after losing five of their last six league games.

They have also been knocked out of the Champions League and exited the Italian Cup.

Some commentators even used the term “dead coach walking” to describe his situation ahead of Thursday’s Italian Cup quarter-final at league leaders Inter Milan, which they lost 2-1.

The former Italy and Juventus defender, who was handed the job despite his lack of experience just before the end of last season when Claudio Ranieri was fired, has accepted his time in charge may be up.

“This experience will be useful for me in the future,” he told a press conference.

“Six months at Juve are worth 10 years elsewhere. When, and if, someone says something (about my position) I’ll accept it serenely. Even if the club bring in another coach, I’ll always be grateful to them.”

Former Italy Under 21 coach Claudio Gentile is the favourite to take over until the end of the season, when the Turin giants reportedly hope to lure Rafael Benitez from Liverpool.

Whoever is in charge on Sunday will have to cope without a long list of injured players, including forward David Trezeguet and Italy winger Mauro Camoranesi, while keeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Fabio Grosso are suspended.

Lazio are also in the doldrums after last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Chievo left the Roman club just two points above the relegation zone in 15th.

It is a big change from the build-up to the early-season fixture between the sides after two league games, when they both had perfect records before a match that Juve won 2-0.

Second-placed AC Milan are looking for a response against Livorno on Sunday after their title ambitions suffered a massive blow with last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to Inter.

They also went out of the Italian Cup with a 1-0 loss to Udinese on Wednesday.

Brazil forward Pato is still unavailable with a thigh problem while influential centre back Alessandro Nesta, badly missed against Inter, is fighting to shake off a leg muscle strain.

Struggling Livorno will visit the San Siro under Serse Cosmi, who made peace with club president Aldo Spinelli on Tuesday having resigned as coach after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat by Napoli.

But they cannot count on first-choice goalkeeper Alfonso De Lucia and Brazilian midfielder Mozart because of suspensions.

Inter, who are nine points clear after having played one game more than their city rivals, will be without Dutch playmaker Wesley Sneijder and Brazil defender Lucio at Parma on Sunday after their red cards in the derby.

But coach Jose Mourinho may be able to field Samuel Eto’o, who has returned from the Africa Cup of Nations with Cameroon, if an ankle knock is not too bad.

AS Roma, who are two points behind Milan in third, face Siena at home on Sunday.

Fourth-placed Napoli, who, like Roma, are in excellent form, entertain Genoa on Saturday with fifth-placed Palermo visiting Bari earlier that day.

Fiorentina, who have slipped down to ninth after some poor recent performances, are unlikely to be able to field Adrian Mutu at Cagliari after it was announced on Thursday that the Romania striker had failed a drugs test.

Saturday

Bari v Palermo, Napoli v Genoa

Sunday

AC Milan v Livorno, Cagliari v Fiorentina, Catania v Udinese, Chievo v Bologna, Juventus v Lazio, Parma v Inter Milan, Roma v Siena, Sampdoria v Atalanta

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, adrian mutu, Africa, Aldo Spinelli, Alessandro, Bari, Bologna, cameroon, catania, ciro ferrara, claudio gentile, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, commentators, David, david trezeguet, doldrums, Fabio Grosso, genoa, gianluigi buffon, inter milan, italian cup, Italy, jose mourinho, juve, juventus, league games, Liverpool, livorno, massive blow, mauro camoranesi, Milan, napoli, Palermo, relegation zone, Romania, ROME, San, season fixture, trezeguet, winger

Last-gasp Balotelli helps Inter pile on Juve agony

January 29, 2010

Mario Balotelli scored a last-gasp winner to help Inter Milan add to Juventus’s misery on Thursday with a 2-1 comeback win at the San Siro that takes them into the semi-finals of the Italian Cup.

The forward thumped in the rebound of a Thiago Motta shot one minute before the end of regulation time after Lucio’s 71st-minute goal had cancelled out Diego’s early opener for the visitors.

Inter will face Fiorentina in a two-leg semi-final, the first of which will take place next week.

The match could be Ciro Ferrara’s last in charge of Juve as Italian media say the club intend to sack him after a dreadful run of form.

Thursday’s defeat leaves his side with little real chance of winning a trophy this season as they are already out of the Champions League and have dropped to sixth in Serie A, 16 points behind leaders Inter, after losing five of their last six league games.

Juventus took the lead in the 10th minute when Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo, who looked insecure after getting a rare start with Julio Cesar resting on the bench, let a seemingly inoffensive shot by Diego slip though his arms and the middle of his legs.

The hosts, who are nine points clear at the top of Serie A after Sunday’s 2-0 derby win over second-placed AC Milan, had Juve pinned back for a spell after going behind and were unlucky not to have a penalty for handball by Felipe Melo in the 44th.

The Italian champions pressed even harder after the break.

Juve, without flu-hit captain Alessandro Del Piero and a long list of injured players, withstood the pressure for a spell and had chances at the other end. Diego was not far off target with a good right-footed effort and defender Giorgio Chiellini hit the post with a header in the 55th.

But centre back Lucio broke down their resistance by poking in after a Wesley Sneijder free-kick took a big deflection off the wall before Balotelli sealed it for Inter.

The authorities closed the away stand of the San Siro to prevent Juve fans attending a match they considered high-risk of being hit by trouble.

The rivalry between the two sets of fans has always been intense but the situation has become especially tense by Juve’s fans repeatedly racially abusing Balotelli, an Italy Under 21 international of Ghanaian descent.

AS Roma and Udinese will meet in the other last-four tie after getting past Catania and AC Milan respectively.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: AC, ac milan, Alessandro Del Piero, captain Alessandro del Piero, catania, deflection, felipe melo, francesco toldo, giorgio chiellini, inter milan, italian champions, italian cup, italian media, Italy, julio cesar, juve fans, last gasp, league games, Mario Balotelli, Milan, minute goal, regulation time, Roma, ROME, San, san siro, target, Thiago Motta, udinese, Wesley Sneijder

De Rossi strike helps Roma into semis

January 27, 2010

Roma entered the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night. A goal from Daniele De Rossi was enough to knock Catania out of the Cup: 1-0. The Sicillians ended the match with nine men after Giuseppe Bellusci and Blazej Augustyn saw red.

Roma, who faced Catania with a weakened attack due to the absence of the injured Luca Toni, Mirko Vucinic and Francesco Totti, dominated the match from start to finish.

Just before half-time it looked like De Rossi broke the deadlock. The Italian midfielder side-stepped his way past two defenders, his shot beat Catania goalkeeper Andrea Campagnolo, but it shaved the upright as the rampant Lupi continued to press forward.

Campagnolo continued to be the hero after the break as he denied De Rossi’s low-driven free kick with his feet. He then pulled off a majestic double save from Simone Perrotta and Stefano Okaka to keep hopes alive.

Roma finally took the lead after Augustyn’s red card. De Rossi’s measured strike in the bottom corner left Campagnolo without a chance.

The Giallorossi are set to face Milan or Udinese in the semi-final.

Tags: Andrea Campagnolo, attack, Blazej Augustyn, bottom corner, campagnolo, catania, coppa italia, daniele de rossi, deadlock, francesco totti, free kick, giallorossi, giuseppe, Giuseppe Bellusci, Goalkeeper, luca toni, lupi, midfielder, Milan, Mirko Vucinic, okaka, perrotta, Roma, semi finals, Simone Perrotta, Stefano Okaka, Toni, tuesday night, udinese

Milan´s title chances on line against Inter

January 23, 2010

AC Milan head into this weekend’s top of the table derby clash with Inter Milan knowing defeat could spell the end of their Serie A title hopes.

Champions Inter have a six-point lead at the top although Milan, in second, have a game in hand, away to Fiorentina in February.

In-form Milan head into this match with eight wins from their last nine Serie A clashes while Inter have stumbled several times recently, particularly on their travels.

They have won only one of their last four away matches in the league and even needed two late strikes to earn a 4-3 victory at home to rock bottom Catania in their last home match.

They will be the hosts at the San Siro on Sunday, although the stadium is also Milan’s home.

The nominal visitors know that while a draw would not be a disaster, the loss of all three points would be.

“The table says we are six points back with a game in hand although that is away to Fiorentina and will be very difficult,” said combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso.

“But we cannot afford to lose the derby, even with a draw we’d still be in with a chance. We’d still be six points back but with a game in hand and the fight would be open.”

Gattuso, though, admitted to being worried about Inter’s amazing powers of recovery.

“Inter cause fear because many times they go behind but still pull out incredible recoveries,” he said.

“I’m thinking of the match against Siena or the one at San Nicola (stadium) when they were 2-0 down to Bari and only narrowly failed to come home with the three points.

“Inter have a strength and a squad that worries you. There’s (Wesley) Sneijder and (Diego) Milito who have great quality but it’s (coach Jose) Mourinho himself who worries me the most because he’s one who certainly won’t go to sleep until he’s found a solution to stop us.

“I know that right now he’s watching many videos to study and see how to stop us.”

Mourinho is going to have to come up with something as he is likely to be without three important midfielders in Dejan Stankovic, Thiago Motta and Sulley Muntari, all stuggling with muscle problems.

Things are little better in their neighbours’ treatment room where striker Pato and full-back Gianluca Zambrotta have been ruled out while centre-back Alessandro Nesta is struggling to be fit.

Further down the table crisis-club Juventus host AS Roma with Claudio Ranieri coming back to face the club that fired him two games before the end of last season.

Ironically, it was following a 3-1 home defeat to Juve at the beginning of the season that saw Luciano Spalletti leave Roma and replaced by Ranieri.

Juve looked set for a great season back then as they won their first four league matches while Roma struggled.

However, Roma have won seven and drawn three of their last 10 league games while Juve have lost seven of their last 10 in all comeptitions and Ranieri’s replacement Ciro Ferrara is under extreme pressure.

Roma are third with Juve down in fifth, although they could be overtaken by both Fiorentina and Cagliari if they win their games in hand.

Fixtures:

Saturday

Catania v Parma, Juventus v AS Roma

Sunday

Bologna v Bari, Genoa v Atalanta, Inter Milan v AC Milan, Lazio v Chievo, Livorno v Napoli, Palermo v Fiorentina, Siena v Cagliari, Udinese v Sampdoria

ROME (AFP)

Tags: Alessandro Nesta, Bari, catania, cause fear, clashes, Claudio Ranieri, Diego, diego milito, gennaro gattuso, genoa, home match, inter milan, Jose, lazio, livorno, luciano spalletti, midfielder, napoli, Palermo, rock bottom, ROME, san siro, several times, Siena, six points, strikes, Thiago Motta, Wesley, Wesley Sneijder, zambrotta

Buffon boost as Juve seek to salvage season

January 16, 2010

Juventus have received two important boosts ahead of their tricky trip to Chievo on Sunday as they bid to salvage their dismal season.

Last week Juve crashed 3-0 at home to AC Milan to slip 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

The defeat, a sixth in eight games in all competitions during which time they also slumped out of the Champions League, also left Juventus embroiled in a tense race for a place in Europe’s top competition next season.

Napoli in fourth are level on points with them, AS Roma are one point behind and both Palermo and Fiorentina, who have a game in hand, are within one victory of the Turin giants.

On Wednesday, Juventus earned a confidence boost in beating Napoli 3-0 in the Coppa Italia while Italy’s number one goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has declared himself fit for Sunday’s trip.

But while that may seem like a double boost, the truth is that Buffon only missed four matches and was between the sticks during most of Juve’s troubles.

Little should be read into the defeat of Napoli either as the southerners rested all their top players, and unlike Juve they don’t have a huge squad with a bench full of international players.

Even so, Juve coach Ciro Ferrara has been happy to see a little of the pressure on his position ease.

“It was a very, very important match for all of us, for me but for everyone else as well,” he said after that victory.

“We played with humility and determination, we deserved to win.

“Lots has gone wrong recently but we absolutely must buy someone. Many players have gone away and we have some injuries.”

However, Buffon was more reserved in his assessment of Juve’s position.

“The win over Napoli in the Cup served to restore our morale but we all know that’s not enough to bring some consistency to our results,” he warned.

Ahead of Juve, Milan are eight points behind Inter, although they do have a game in hand and the Milan derby to come in a week’s time.

Inter also face a tricky clash away to Bari on Saturday with the southerners having only lost once at home all season.

They also held Inter to a 1-1 draw at the San Siro on the opening day of the campaign and are in the mix for a top four finish, six points behind Juve and Napoli but with a game in hand.

Bari captain, the Belgian goalkeeper Jean Francois Gillet vowed to give Jose Mourinho as many problems as they did earlier in the season.

“Against Inter in the worst case scenario we hope to repeat the result we previously got against them when we had the Italian champions on the ropes,” he said.

Inter have problems as Samuel Eto’o is away on African Cup of Nations duty while the likes of Esteban Cambiasso and Dejan Stankovic are stuggling to be fit and Cristian Chivu is definitely out.

If Inter do slip up, Milan will be expecting to capitalise given they are playing at home to rock bottom Siena.

Alongside Napoli, Milan are probably the form team in Serie A and combative midfielder Gennaro Gattuso says a lot of that is down to rookie coach Leonardo.

“He’s doing a great job with the group and manages to get himself understood in the dressing room,” he said.

“It’s not easy managing such a group with many star players but he’s great at speaking to everyone individually and making them understand the needs of the team.”

It won’t be all plain-sailing for Milan, though, as last week Siena were two minutes away from escaping the San Siro with three points until two late Inter goals gave the champions a 4-3 win.

Fixtures

Saturday

Bari v Inter Milan, Cagliari v Livorno

Sunday

AC Milan v Siena, Atalanta v Lazio, Chievo v Juventus, Fiorentina v Bologna, Napoli v Palermo, Parma v Udinese, AS Roma v Genoa, Sampdoria v Catania

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Bari, Bologna, boosts, catania, champions league, clash, consistency, cristian chivu, Esteban Cambiasso, Europe, Ferrara, gennaro gattuso, genoa, gianluigi buffon, inter milan, Italy, juve, juve milan, lazio, leonardo, Milan, napoli, Palermo, Roma, salvage, samuel eto, San, southerners, turin

Milan edge minnows Novara as Juve bounce back

January 14, 2010

Mathieu Flamini scored the winner nine minutes from time as a second-string AC Milan team beat third division Novara 2-1 at the San Siro on Wednesday to reach the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.

The rossoneri were joined by Juventus and Catania after they recorded victories over Napoli and Genoa respectively.

Milan coach Leonardo made 11 changes to the team that won 3-0 at Juventus on Sunday with Ronaldinho, loan signing David Beckham, Andrea Pirlo and Alessandro Nesta not even included on the bench.

Veteran striker Filippo Inzaghi opened the scoring on 12 minutes but in the first minute of the second period Pablo Gonzalez stunned the San Siro by drawing Novara level.

Flamini had the last word, though, and Milan will play Udinese or Lumezzane in the next round.

Eight people, amongst them two children, were taken to hospital after 20 people were injured in a motorway crash between a lorry and a coach carrying Novara supporters to the game – Novara lies just 40km west of Milan.

Juventus bounced back from their weekend humbling as an Alessandro Del Piero brace, one from the spot, helped them to a 3-0 victory in Turin.

Diego scored the first as a full-strength and attacking Juve blew away Napoli’s 14-match unbeaten run under coach Walter Mazzarri, although he did rest many first team regulars in a competition few teams take seriously in Italy.

Catania recorded an impressive 2-1 win away to Genoa to reach the last eight. Inter Milan and AS Roma had previously also qualified for the quarters, with the final three qualifiers to be decided on Thursday.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, Alessandro Del Piero, Alessandro Nesta, andrea pirlo, catania, coppa italia, David Beckham, Diego, filippo inzaghi, full strength, genoa, inter milan, Italy, juventus, leonardo, lorry, Mathieu Flamini, Milan, milan juventus, milan team, napoli, pablo gonzalez, quarter finals, Roma, ROME, ronaldinho, rossoneri, San, san siro, second period, second string, turin, veteran striker, Walter Mazzarri

Ferrara’s Rocky spirit cannot hide the failures of another rookie

January 13, 2010

Under pressure Juventus boss Ciro Ferrara has come out fighting after a fourth defeat in five matches but it may not be enough for another first-time coach to save his job.

“One of my friends, one of the few I have at the moment, said to me, ‘you are like Rocky’. I am full of punches and blood but I say to my opponent, I am not hurt, punch harder because you are not hurting me,” Ferrara said in the wake of a 3-0 home defeat by AC Milan.

“There is nothing that could knock me down, my mother punched harder.”

His determination is admirable but are Juve now regretting appointing a man with no real managerial experience to replace Claudio Ranieri last May?

In recent times, Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola is possibly the only man to have succeeded in his first big club job.

Ferrara, previously much-loved in Turin as a no-nonsense defender, is in danger of following some other rookie coaches out the door.

Juergen Klinsmann and Marco van Basten had reasonable success as first-time coaches of Germany and the Netherlands, but their only important club roles at Bayern Munich and Ajax turned out to be disasters.

Alan Shearer was adored by Newcastle United fans for all his goals but when it came to trying to save the club from relegation from the Premier League, he failed miserably and went back to TV punditry.

Even AC Milan coach Leonardo had a dreadful start to his first managerial season, including a home defeat by FC Zurich in the Champions League, before a pickup in form which some critics allege is because of the weakness of Serie A rather than the quality of their play.

Managing prima donna players, dealing with unreasonble supporter expectations and fending off criticism from the media are no easy tasks. Why would someone who was a good player be naturally adept at being a coach if they only had minimal training?

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho’s playing career ended before it had begun but after years of shadowing a maestro like Bobby Robson he has achieved great things as a manager.

Is it all proof yet again that being a top player does not make you a top manager?

PHOTO: Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara looks on before the start of the Italian Serie A soccer match against Catania in Turin, Dec 20, 2009. REUTERS/Alessandro Garofalo

Source

Tags: ac milan, alan shearer, alessandro garofalo, Barcelona, Bayern, bayern munich, boss, catania, ciro ferrara, Claudio Ranieri, club job, fc zurich, Germany, inter milan, jose mourinho, juventus, klinsmann, leonardo, managerial experience, marco van basten, Milan, newcastle united, pep guardiola, premier league, prima donna, punches, punditry, relegation, Robson, the Netherlands, time coach, training inter, ZURICH

Roma hit back in Italian Cup against Triestina

January 13, 2010

AS Roma bounced back from conceding a shock early goal against Serie B strugglers Triestina to win 3-1 on Tuesday and qualify for the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia.

Roma, who will play Genoa or Catania next, joined Serie A leaders Inter Milan in the last eight after Jose Mourinho’s team beat Livorno 1-0 in December.

Triestina were ahead after just five minutes as Luigi Della Rocca converted a penalty after he himself had been fouled by Marco Cassetti.

A shock was on the cards against a weakened Roma, for whom coach Claudio Ranieri rested the likes of centre-back Juan, striker Luca Toni and midfield dynamo Daniele De Rossi.

But Roma drew level on the stroke of halftime as Matteo Brighi shot home following a rebound.

Montenegro forward Mirko Vucini gave the hosts the lead on the hour after he was set up by French winger Jeremy Menez.

And 10 minutes from time Brazilian flop Julio Baptista sealed the victory direct from a free-kick.

In Wednesday’s matches Juventus host Napoli in the tie of the round while third division Novara travel to the San Siro to tackle mighty AC Milan.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: ac milan, catania, Claudio Ranieri, coach claudio, coppa italia roma, de rossi, dynamo, genoa, italian cup, Jeremy Menez, Jose, jose mourinho, julio baptista, livorno, Luigi Della Rocca, marco cassetti, matteo brighi, Milan, Mirko, Montenegro, napoli, quarter finals, ROME, San, san siro, Toni, win 3, winger

Under-pressure Ferrara vows to fight on at Juventus

December 21, 2009

Juventus coach Ciro Ferrara has vowed to fight on despite his team’s fifth defeat in six matches leaving their season in tatters.

Juve and near-novice coach Ferrara came into this campaign with lofty expectations in both Serie A and the Champions League but these last six matches have changed all that.

The Italian giants lost their last two European games against Bordeaux and Bayern Munich to leave them with Europa League football to looked forward to next year.

And three defeats in their last four league matches against minnows Cagliari, Bari and Catania has left them nine points behind champions Inter Milan and with little hope of landing a first league title since 2003.

But despite his team’s dire results, Ferrara insists he will stick things out.

“Ours is a boat in a storm and to get through this we have to stick together, not for one moment have I thought about abandoning ship,” he said.

In his first senior coaching job, Ferrara took over the Juve reins two matches before the end of last season after Claudio Ranieri was sacked but since winning his first six league matches he has won only seven of the last 18 in all competitions.

Juve have picked up just 18 points from their last 13 league games, a points to games ratio that would see them below 13th placed Cagliari if they’d done that since the start of the season.

But for their four straight wins at the beginning they would be in crisis.

“It’s a difficult time for everyone, we’re desperately disappointed, we’re struggling and our opponents are making the most of it,” added Ferrara.

“Strong men and strong teams need to react but it’s not easy because morale is low. However, those who are used to and work in sport know that there are difficult times that need to be overcome.”

The problem is that the fans are increasingly turning against both Ferrara and the team.

They were jeered throughout Sunday’s shocking 2-1 home defeat to rock-bottom Catania and several hundred fans staged an angry protest outside the ground after the final whistle.

“The dressing room shares their disappointment as does everyone going through this difficult time in which we are not achieving results worthy of this club,” said Ferrara.

“We can’t be happy. If there was just one problem we would already have resolved it. There are many things that aren’t working … but the answer lies not in the transfer market.”

Ferrara is under pressure with rumours abound that he may soon be given the boot, with Guus Hiddink allegedly on the Old Lady of Turin’s wanted list, although the Dutchman’s agent poured cold water over that speculation.

“It’s not true, no-one from Juve has contacted me,” said Cees Van Niewenhuizen.

“I’ve also read that we were seen at (Milan’s) Malpensa airport but that’s not true either, it’s ridiculous.”

Ferrara has found an unlikely ally, though, in predecessor Ranieri who explained how tough the Juve job can be.

“There you have to win so it’s normal that fans protest. I did what was asked of me and I was still sent packing,” he said.

For now, though, Juventus are publically backing their coach.

“We believe in him and his staff. We all need to work harder and look at ourselves,” said president Jean-Claude Blanc.

“The winter break has come at just the right time to reflect so that we can come back afterwards with better morale so that we can improve our results.”

ROME (AFP)