Zibi Boniek believes ‘the Jose Mourinho era had to be closed’ and Daniele De Rossi can be ‘Roma’s Sir Alex Ferguson,’ but Milan remain the favourites in the Europa League quarter-finals.
The Giallorossi have gone from strength to strength since De Rossi took over from Mourinho in mid-January, climbing the Serie A table and getting past both Feyenoord and Brighton in the Europa League.
“I think De Rossi arrived at the right time, because the Mourinho era had to be closed, the moment had come to terminate that relationship,” former Roma star and current President of the Poland football federation Boniek told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I am convinced that Daniele is intelligent, talented, motivated and this is a wonderful story for Roma. He was their player, captain and now coach.”
The fact that De Rossi was teammates with some of the current squad inevitably helped his rapport with them, especially those who had growing friction with Mourinho.
“All it took was to adjust the tactics a little and the rapport with the players and immediately important results arrived. Now we have to see how the story ends, I personally hope he becomes like the Ferguson of Roma and remain for many years.”
Sir Alex Ferguson was on the Manchester United bench for 27 years.
Roma are the only Italian club that De Rossi represented as a player, going to Argentina and Boca Juniors for the final months of his career when the Giallorossi chose not to extend his contract.
There is going to be an all-Italian derby in the Europa League quarter-finals between Serie A rivals Roma and Milan.
“I think Milan are the favourites, but Roma have their chances and can give it a go,” added Boniek.
“It will be fundamental for them to anaesthetise the left flank with Theo Hernandez and Rafael Leao, because if you can stop those two, then it becomes a very balanced match. I believe that will be the key to the clash.”
Alex Ferguson ? ha ha ha ha ha! Stop it!