Walter Sabatini has explained why he hopes for more than just Juventus as a Scudetto challenger for Roma, as he comments on Kevin Strootman again.
Walter Sabatini has explained why he hopes for more than just Juventus as a Scudetto challenger for Roma, as he comments on Kevin Strootman again.
The sporting director has reflected on the state of Serie A heading into Week 6’s top-of-the-table clash between the Bianconeri and Giallorossi, already seen as the League’s outright title runners.
“With Juventus we can compete, we are happy to be able to play them on level points,” began Sabatini today in collecting an award for best director of the last season in Serie A.
“I would hope that the championship will also involve others – if the dynamics were to be those of last year then it becomes difficult.
“If, however, other teams are up in the standings – I am sure this will happen – it will be different and I believe that our chances might grow.
“It is not great news for Serie A [that Roma and Juve are already ahead of the others]. We are pleased to be top alongside Juve, but I would rather have a season that was more complex, with more high-level matches.
“It can happen, in Italy there are strong teams that will emerge soon. Both Roma and Juventus could compete in other Leagues, I won’t say to win them, but to honour them.
“And I do not believe in the inferiority complex of Italian football. It is still an extraordinary expression of technique, tactics and mentality.
“We have no petrodollars, but football can also be done with other resources, which I know and so do the other directors in Italian football. We have to react and we have the opportunity to do so.”
Roma have earned more admirers abroad this week for their performance in the Champions League draw at Manchester City.
“We had already played a Champions League match with CSKA, spectacular in both the result and the level of performance, but it certainly was not enough to convince.
“We had played at home against a team that was supposedly weak, but that certainly is not weak and will prove it in the next games.
“We went to Manchester to try to play our football. We have gained additional awareness, we want to be in the competition and we want to do well until the end of the season.”
Rumours continue to link Manchester United with a future move for Kevin Strootman.
“I have found that all of the lavish things that are coming out are stories that are all from England.
“There is no issue with Strootman, who is one of our important players and who we miss very much.
“There have been months now without him and around him we had built a style of play.
“He will return soon and he is not on the market – we will give him the time needed to recover to being the same as before.”