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

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

Injured Totti out of Juve clash

January 12, 2010

The Roma fans will have to be patient. They are desperate to see Francesco Totti link up with new striker Luca Toni in the Giallorossi’s attack but they will have to wait until after the match against Juventus, on January 23. Totti still suffers from an injury that will probably keep him sidelined for the rest of this month.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri is excited by the potential of his new-look attack of Toni and Totti but he won’t be able to test the duo because of Totti’s injury. The club icon is set to miss the matches against Triestina (Coppa Italia), Genoa and the top match against Juventus, which is scheduled for next week.

“I don’t feel well at all. But I will be back after the Juve game,” promised Totti, who has played twelve league matches so far this season.

Roma are fifth in the table, one point behind struggling Juventus. Ciro Ferrara’s side were stunned by Milan, last weekend while Roma defeated Chievo.

Tags: ciro ferrara, Claudio Ranieri, club icon, coach claudio, coppa italia, francesco totti, game, genoa, giallorossi, juventus, luca toni, match, Milan, Roma, roma fans, striker, Toni, totti

Totti to retire at Roma

December 17, 2009

Francesco Totti agreed a deal on Wednesday to remain at Roma through 2014. In addition, the Roma captain ensured himself a place on the club’s staff following his retirement.

Totti, 33, was set to see his current deal at Stadio Olimpico expire at the end of this season, but the new contract keeps the veteran Italian forward on board for four further seasons through June 2014.

In addition, the contract has also assured Totti a spot on the club’s coaching staff when the deal expires, at which time Totti would be expected to announce his retirement from the game. Totti would be three months shy of his 38th birthday when the deal reaches its end.

Totti has played his entire professional career at Roma, beginning in 1992 (and making his senior debut against Brescia in March 1993) and has scored nearly 200 Serie A goals for the Giallorossi, guiding the club to the Scudetto in 2001.

Tags: birthday, brescia, debut, francesco totti, game, giallorossi, new contract, Olimpico, professional career, retirement, Roma, scudetto, stadio, three months

Roma trying to script a ‘Roman tragedy’ for Basel

December 3, 2009

AS Roma’s fortune’s have turned for good. From faltering Roman giants and nearly becoming a Roman tragedy, the Stadio Olimpico tenants are looking to turn their season around following a mixed September and a torrid October month.

If Luciano Spalleti’s decision to step down was shocking, then the Giallorossi’s 2-0 defeat at St. Jakob-Park to FC Basel 1893 on Matchday 1 of Europa League would have been a hammer blow for the Roman faithful.

But after putting in a string of gritty displays, which includes a 1-1 draw against Internazionale Milano FC at the San Siro, the team now led by Claudio Ranieri is galloping fast in the right direction.

Even Ranieri feels that his team is different from the one that surrendered to Basel at St. Jakob-Park.

“I had just arrived,” said the former Chelsea and Juventus coach, who replaced Luciano Spalletti in September.

“That was not the real Roma – I hope Basel see it this time. We’re doing well, but I’ve told my players I’m not satisfied yet. We have to keep on doing good things and taking care of every small detail.”

However, with two matchdays remaining, four points separate the top three teams with Basel leading the way on nine points, Roma two points adrift and Fulham FC on five.

A win at the Stadio Olimpico will be priceless as it would take Roma through to the round of 32, regardless of how Fulham get on at home to PFC CSKA Sofia in the night’s other match, as Basel host the English side in their final fixture.

But the hope of achieving a victory also comes with added pressure of not conceding a defeat and Ranieri certainly knows that.

“We want to go through and we know if we lose we would almost be eliminated,” he said.

“We can’t underestimate this match; Basel are a great team and they have already beaten us. They deserved that victory, but now we need to win if we want to reach the next round. I don’t want my players to concede this time; that has been a problem for us this season.”

Even on the run of a five match unbeaten streak, Ranieri’s selection head-aches haven’t lessened.

Daniele De Rossi is doubtful as he recovers from a kidney infection and fractured cheekbone and the coach may also elect to leave out captain Francesco Totti and defender Juan.

Add to coach Thorsten Fink’s confidence of his Basel side making it through to the round of 32, the Stadio Olimpico will be treated to a highly competitive fixture, come Matchday 4 on Thursday night.

Fink knows the size of the task and has pledged not to give Roma an easy ride, regardless of who they field.

“We respect Roma, but we do not fear them,” he said.

“The Giallorossi are clear favourites to win the group, but we are the leaders and we’ll do our best to stay on top. Roma are much more better now than they were in the first match we played, but we want to make the most of our chances. We believe we can qualify.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: captain Francesco Totti, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, cska sofia, fortune, fulham, fulham fc, giallorossi, giants, hammer blow, internazionale milano, Juan, juventus, leading the way, luciano spalletti, matchday, pfc, right direction, Roma, San, san siro, Sofia, st jakob park, St. Jakob, stadio olimpico, torrid

Perrotta and Pizarro sign new deal with Roma

October 29, 2009

Roma midfielder Simone Perrotta has signed a one year extended deal and will continue to be a part of the club till 2011.

The 32-year-old Italian international’s has been a key player for giallorossi and with his previous deal ending next summer the club in agreement with the midfielder extended the contract to one more year.

A statement from the club read: ”AS Roma and Simone Perrotta have reached an agreement to extend the player’s contract until June 30, 2011. The player will receive 3.1 million euros for the 2010-11 campaign, besides the extras upon reaching the aims fixed for that season.”

David Pizarro also signed an agreement extending his association with the club till June 2013 and his reward is similar to that of Perrotta.

It’s a positive move by the romans following their inconsistency in the last few Serie A games. Roma will next host Bologna on november 1st at Stadio Olimpico.

Anurada Bhat

Tags: 1 million, aims, Bologna, david pizarro, giallorossi, inconsistency, midfielder, new deal, november 1st, Roma, romans, Simone Perrotta

Ranieri front-runner for Roma post

September 2, 2009

Former Juventus and Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has emerged as the front runner to takeover at Roma after former manager Luciano Spalletti offered his resignation on Tuesday.

Spalletti led the Giallorossi to back-to-back second place finishes in Serie A in 2006/07 and 2007/08 but paid the price for a below par campaign last season.

After a dismal start the Italian managed to steer the club to a 6th placed finish but ultimately missed out on a UEFA Champions League place.

Spalletti decided to call it a day after seeing his side slip to the bottom of the table after losing their opening two games of this season.

Rumours have surfaced that the club from the capital have moved quick to replace the man at the helm with former Juventus boss Ranieri.

However, complications have arisen with the fact that the former Chelsea boss is still under contract with the Turin giants after being sacked with two games of last season remaining.

Ranieri is said to be in talks with Roma regarding his backroom staff but the manager’s lawyer, Mattia Grassani, warned that negotiations were still a long way off.

“For the moment there isn’t the agreement with Roma,” Grassani said.

“There are a few things to clear and are necessary for there to be a few sacrifices from both sides.

“Ranieri is tranquil and he waits the developments of the situation.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: agreement, backroom staff, boss, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, giallorossi, giants, Grassani, helm, juventus, lawyer, luciano spalletti, mattia, negotiations, resignation, Roma, rumours, sacrifices, takeover, Tuesday, turin, two games, UEFA Champions League

Ranieri returns to Roma to replace Spalletti

September 1, 2009

Claudio Ranieri has agreed to become the new coach of Roma, his lawyer announced on Tuesday, hours after Luciano Spalletti left his job as manager of the Serie A heavyweights.

“There’s an agreement and tomorrow (Wednesday) there’ll be a signature,” Ranieri’s lawyer Mattia Grassani told Italian news agency Ansa.

“The contract will be for two years.”

Ranieri, 57, was sacked as coach of Roma’s rivals Juventus two games prior to the end of last season after a sequence of underwhelming results.

The former Napoli, Fiorentina, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea coach agreed to join the ‘Giallorossi’ after a meeting on Tuesday morning with club president Rosella Sensi.

The move to the Stadio Olimpico represents a return to Ranieri’s roots.

Born in the Italian capital, he was raised in the Testaccio district and was a regular on the Roma terraces before beginning his playing career at the club in 1973 but leaving after playing just six matches.

He agreed his return to the club a matter of hours after Spalletti announced his decision to step down.

“I submitted my resignation and the club accepted it,” said Spalletti after a 30-minute meeting with Sensi.

Roma lost 3-1 at home to likely title contenders Juventus on Sunday to leave them bottom of the Serie A table, having lost their opening game of the season 3-2 at Genoa.

Spalletti, 50, joined the club in 2005 from Udinese. His contract was due to expire in 2011.

He initially enjoyed success at the Stadio Olimpico, taking the side to second-placed league finishes in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and back-to-back triumphs in the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008.

Roma also made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2007 and 2008, but they never recovered from a terrible start to last season and finished the campaign in a disappointing sixth place.

Spalletti is the first coach or manager to quit or be sacked from Italy’s top flight this season.

ROME (AFP)

Tags: atletico madrid, CHELSEA, Claudio Ranieri, club president, giallorossi, heavyweights, italian capital, italian cup, italian news agency, Italy, luciano spalletti, MADRID, mattia, napoli, quarter finals, ROME, rosella, season 3, serie a table, stadio olimpico, terrible start, title contenders, top flight, tuesday morning

Spalletti calls time on Roma career

September 1, 2009

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has announced his resignation from the Italian Serie A side, the Ansa news agency reported on Tuesday.

“I submitted my resignation and the club accepted it,” said Spalletti after a 30-minute meeting with club president Rosella Sensi.

Roma lost 3-1 at home to likely title contenders Juventus on Sunday to leave them bottom of the Serie A table, having lost their opening game of the season 3-2 at Genoa.

Spalletti, 50, joined the ‘Giallorossi’ in 2005 from Udinese. His contract was due to expire in 2011.

He initially enjoyed success at the Stadio Olimpico, taking the side to second-placed league finishes in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and back-to-back triumphs in the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008.

Spalletti had previously expressed his frustration at Roma’s lack of activity during the summer transfer window.

Young striker Fabio Zamblera, veteran Romanian goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont and Argentine defender Nicolas Burdisso, a loan signing from Inter Milan, were the only arrivals, while home-grown midfielder Alberto Aquilani was allowed to join Liverpool.

Spalletti was also rumoured to have fallen out with Roma’s iconic captain Francesco Totti, who has been at the club since 1989.

Spalletti is the first coach or manager to quit or be sacked from Italy’s top flight this season.

The Italian media have identified Claudio Ranieri as Spalletti’s potential successor. The 57-year-old was sacked as coach of Juventus prior to the end of last season.

ROME (AFP)