Sports
Daniele De Rossi Makes Debut as Roma Manager Against Verona
Roma‘s legendary player, Daniele De Rossi, is set to make his managerial debut as Roma takes on Verona in a crucial match at the Stadio Olimpico.
Following the surprising managerial change at Roma, which saw José Mourinho being sacked after two-and-a-half years at the helm, the club turned to its former player, Daniele De Rossi, to lead the team. This move was long-awaited, as De Rossi has been speculated to take on a managerial role at the club for some time now.
De Rossi, known for his intelligence and combative style during his playing days, seems poised to transition into coaching seamlessly. Although this opportunity comes sooner than expected, given the circumstances, De Rossi has embraced the challenge and has shown all the right signs leading up to the match.
Roma will face Verona, a team currently placed 17th in the league. Despite Verona’s position, the match is far from easy for Roma, as they will be without key players due to injuries, suspensions, and international call-ups. Bryan Cristante and Gianluca Mancini will be absent due to suspension, while Evan Ndicka, Houssem Aouar, and Sardar Azmoun are participating in the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup. Furthermore, Renato Sanches, Chris Smalling, Marash Kumbulla, and Tammy Abraham are sidelined due to injuries.
With a shortage in the center-back position, it’s expected that De Rossi will deploy a back four formation, with Rick Karsdorp and Leonardo Spinazzola as full-backs, and a central partnership consisting of Diego Llorente and Dean Huijsen.
In midfield, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Edoardo Bove, and Leandro Parades are likely to start, with Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy in advanced positions. The team’s leading goalscorer, Romelu Lukaku, is expected to start up front.
On the other hand, Verona will be without Cyril Ngonge, who recently transferred to another club. Marco Baroni, the Verona coach, is likely to field an attacking lineup with Jordi Mboula, Tomas Suslov, and Riccardo Saponara supporting center-forward Djuric.
Kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico is set for 17:00 GMT, and all eyes will be on Daniele De Rossi as he takes charge of the Giallorossi from the touchline for the first time.
