Italian pundits analyse Roma’s crisis, and Beppe Bergomi identifies three players benched by Ivan Juric and who ‘would be starters’ under José Mourinho.
Roma are closer to the Serie A relegation zone than a Champions League placement after a 3-2 loss against Hellas Verona on Sunday.
Juric is on the brink, and Italian media have already named several possible candidates to replace the Croatian tactician, including Massimiliano Allegri and Frank Lampard.
Juric, a former Torino and Hellas Verona coach, replaced Daniele De Rossi on September 18 but has only won four games from 10 across all competitions.
“De Rossi wanted explosive players, but they signed different footballers instead,” Bergomi, a former Inter defender, told Sky Sport.
Bergomi names three players who would be Roma ‘starters’ with Mourinho
“In the end, Roma lack footballers in determined positions and in others, they have too many, like left-footed strikers such as Dybala, Soulé and Baldanzi. I don’t know if [Juric] is the right or wrong coach, but I think he struggles to field the team he wants.”
Former Juventus and Bologna midfielder Giancarlo Marocchi added: “It can’t work. Roma have some World Cup winners in their squad. A player with a history like Hummels must be a starter. If you have Paredes, he must be a starter—the same is true for Cristante, a European champion [with Italy].”
Hummels has only made one appearance as a substitute for Roma since joining the club on a free transfer in August. Paredes has six appearances across all competitions this season, while Cristante was benched in the last two games against Torino and Hellas Verona.
“With Mourinho, they would all be starters, absolutely,” argued Bergomi.
Roma’s next competitive match is against Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League this coming Thursday. The Giallorossi will host Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, November 10 in the next Serie A fixture.