This is not the same Roma that lost 6-1 at Bodo/Glimt

Roma are a very different side to the one that was beaten 6-1 by Bodo/Glimt six months ago, in terms of personnel, tactics and confidence.

Those sides meet again on Thursday in the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, the first leg kicking off in Norway at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

This is the same stadium, and artificial turf, where the Giallorossi were beaten 6-1 back in October during the group phase.

That proved to be a turning point for Jose Mourinho’s time in the Capital, followed by complaints and rants, pointing out he had “only 13 players” to choose from and the rest simply could not be relied upon.

Of the 11 that started in Norway, only three are still considered regular picks for Mourinho, namely goalkeeper Rui Patricio, defenders Roger Ibanez and Marash Kumbulla.

Bryan Reynolds was never seen again at right-back, with Borja Mayoral and Gonzalo Villar immediately placed on the transfer market, both Spaniards sealing loans to Getafe.

Amadou Diawara and Ebrima Darboe were meant to be released in January too, but refused various options and are now rotting on the bench.

Riccardo Calafiori was sent on loan to Genoa, with Stephan El Shaarawy getting very little playing time.

Having said that, it’s worth pointing out Roma truly capitulated in the second half, when Darboe, Villar and Mayoral had already been substituted by Bryan Cristante, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eldor Shomurodov.

In fact, the worst period of the game was after Mourinho had made all five substitutions.

It’s not just the players who have changed, with Sergio Oliveira and Ainsley Maitland-Niles brought in, plus Felix Afena-Gyan promoted from the youth team.

Mourinho also transformed his tactics, realising the 4-2-3-1 left the midfield painfully exposed, especially with full-backs more adept at going forward than defending.

It was a few weeks later that he found the key, a three-man defence to provide more balance and Nicolò Zaniolo forging a wonderful partnership with Tammy Abraham.

Another huge boost arrived not from the transfer market, but the treatment table, where Lorenzo Pellegrini missed so much of the campaign.

It is no coincidence that Roma went on their 10-match Serie A unbeaten run once Pellegrini returned to the starting XI in mid-February.

He has that ability to unite midfield and attack, as well as his excellent prowess from free kicks and corners, to make the difference in this side.

Above all, Bodo/Glimt beat a Roma side that was still finding its feet, the same one that lost heavily to Inter, Milan, Lazio and fumbled a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 against Juventus.

That is not the mentality of the current squad, climbing up the Serie A table, pushing Lazio and Atalanta aside and with great expectations for this Conference League campaign.