Franco Baldini has reflected this week on judging performance over results, comparisons between Fabio Capello and Luis Enrique and the future for Roma.
After consecutive wins in the League, Enrique’s Roma find themselves on a positive ascent and end 2011 sitting in seventh place in the League.
Franco Baldini has reflected this week on judging performance over results, comparisons between Fabio Capello and Luis Enrique and the future for Roma.
After consecutive wins in the League, Enrique’s Roma find themselves on a positive ascent and end 2011 sitting in seventh place in the League.
Whilst positive in his assessment, Giallorosso general manager Baldini took the opportunity in speaking to Roma Channel to compare recent performances against Napoli and Bologna with others this season where the result has not been the same.
“The result has this magical ability to give the perception of the events that occurred in a different light, whether the team had had more or less of the game.
“Even at times when the result has not be achieved, as in Udine and Florence, the team has shown its own identity.”
In reflecting on the side's successive away wins and the preceding 1-1 draw at home to Juventus, Baldini was asked if Coach Enrique had adopted more of an ‘Italianised’ approach to tactics and coaching in recent weeks.
“We must also try to understand what is meant by ‘Italianise’ because we are playing in the same manner as before. The quality of the players’ interpretation has changed, therefore so has the way we play. Against Juventus and Napoli we have had less possession because they are two very strong teams.
“Enrique’s proposal has always remained the same, it is clear that he is making a personal journey of growth, even going beyond what might be our expectations.”
The general manager was then asked about his focus since returning to the Eternal City. This is Baldini’s second spell at the club after a six-year stint as sporting director at the club some six years ago.
“The first instinct [on arriving at the club] was for survival, and I felt a nostalgia for what had been in the past. Then, I focused on solving all the problems that we had to resolve.
“When winning it seemed that everything is fine when it was not always the case. It was tied too closely to results.
“I was nervous [for the first Press conference], I would have liked not to be. I’ve always thought it is best to start doing something rather than to talk about it.
“The obligations of representation, though, forces me to speak more than I’d like. There are many things to do and to promise things through an ad campaign is not something that I like.
“The aim is to create a more enjoyable football game. We would like it to be experienced differently.”
Baldini returned to Rome in October after the end of his contract with the English FA as assistant manager to Capello at England. Capello and Baldini have had an on-off nine-year spell working together, from a five-year period at Roma from 1999 to a season at Real Madrid as Coach and sporting director.
The 51-year-old was asked to consider the positives and negatives to have come from this working relationship and then to compare it with the one he is developing with Enrique.
“[A highlight] was when Capello went from risking being sacked to winning the Scudetto while with England there was great satisfaction in going through the European Championship qualifying unbeaten.
“The elimination to Germany [at South Africa 2010] still burns.
“Capello is a Coach of charisma and extraordinary experience, but he is used to working with teams that are already formed. Here [with Enrique] we are now building everything from the ground, bringing in new blood and trying to create an enjoyable game for the fans.
“We are building something attractive, maybe not with immediate results, but in the meantime it is a well-defined and offensive unit that is improving over time and winning more and more games.”
Baldini was then asked whether with the club’s plans for a new stadium when coupled with his words on entertaining fans allude to a ‘cultural revolution’.
“No, no, it’s just the implementation of ideas that we hope will lead to passionate style of football, but less controversial and more serene.
“Maybe one day you will be able to go to a game as you do to a country fair. If we can make the stadium a place where there is no danger or controversy then everyone will fit in. You don’t need proclamations, just small steps. We are asking the fans what we should be improving.”