Frosinone coach Eusebio Di Francesco admits Roma‘s win over Barcelona in the 2018 Champions League quarter-finals was ‘the beginning of my downfall’ but insists he’s never felt ‘finished’ over the last five years.
Di Francesco’s Frosinone have collected 18 points in 13 Serie A games this season and are closer to a European placement than the relegation zone. The Italian tactician was appointed by the newly promoted team last summer to replace Fabio Grosso who had brought the Ciociari to Italy’s top flight.
Di Francesco was regarded as one of the most exciting coaches in Italy when his Roma side qualified for the Champions League semis in 2018 by beating Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
The Giallorossi had lost the first leg at Nou Camp 4-1, but completed a stunning comeback, securing a 3-0 win in the decider at the Stadio Olimpico in one of the most memorable games in the club’s history.
“Roma-Barcelona was the best night, but it was the beginning of my downfall,” Di Francesco told Cronache di Spogliatoio.
“After that, I went to Sampdoria and I wanted to resign after two games. I lasted until Week 7 out of respect for my staff members, but then I resigned. I felt like a prisoner. I started well at Cagliari and I had extended my contract too, but something broke up and we decided to rescind. Verona was the worst experience. It ended after three games and then I remained at home for two years without a club.”
Di Francesco was appointed by Samp in June 2019 but resigned the following October. His spell at Cagliari was longer, from August 2020 to February 2021, while he remained in charge of Hellas Verona only from June to September 2021.
“Sometimes, I blame myself more than I should. I’ve paid for all my errors,” the 54-year-old continued.
“They said I was finished and the last five years have been awful. I’ve had too many disappointments and I was disappointed too. Many ingredients determine the success of a coach and I hadn’t been good enough or lucky. I joined the right clubs at the wrong moments.
“I’ve always known I had nothing to prove, I knew I was still able to do this job but unconsciously, I had many doubts. Not about my abilities, but about my capacity to transmit my ideas to a group and know how to manage it. Everyone said something, but I like to listen only to those I respect.”