Roma legend Paulo Roberto Falcao is impressed by Rudi Garcia’s team, but admits they “envy” the Juventus mentality.
The Brazilian toured the Roma Hall of Fame this weekend and attended events to mark the unveiling of new stadium plans.
Roma legend Paulo Roberto Falcao is impressed by Rudi Garcia’s team, but admits they “envy” the Juventus mentality.
The Brazilian toured the Roma Hall of Fame this weekend and attended events to mark the unveiling of new stadium plans.
“I frankly didn’t expect so much love for me,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Every time I come back here I think to myself, since I left these people Roma have won the Scudetto, went close to two or three others, saw great players and have American patrons, but still their love for me is unchanged and perhaps will never change.
“It is my greatest pride to have remained in the hearts of the Roma fans. I had hoped to 30 years ago, but I didn’t expect it to be like this.
“Roma are happy now and they have every right to be, as especially with a new stadium they can be a top level club.
“Rudi Garcia’s vision is to see the collective. The different sections are interdependent and Francesco Totti continues to make the difference for at least 40-50 minutes per game.
“The Coach is very intelligent and everyone told me they are very confident with him. This squad reminds me of my first Roma, the one in 1981. It was a beautiful team, enjoyable and revolutionary with its zonal defending. We should’ve won the Scudetto that year, apart from the famous disallowed Turone goal…”
The Giallorossi are 14 points adrift of leaders Juventus, albeit with a game in hand against Parma.
“It’s a shame, because if Juve weren’t having such an out of this world campaign then Roma still would’ve been in the running for the Scudetto,” continued Falcao.
“The winning mentality is one of those things about Juventus that, deep down, we Romanisti have always envied.
“I have faith in Garcia’s side, as they can open a new era, like the Nils Liedholm one in the 1980s.”