Damiano Tommasi, former Roma midfielder and current Mayor of Verona, suggested that the Giallorossi have ‘taken on the tough personality’ of coach Jose Mourinho.
The Giallorossi grinded out a tough 1-0 win over relegation candidates Hellas Verona on Sunday, with new signing Ola Solbakken finding his first goal for the club in the 45th minute of the match. The win keeps Roma in the conversation for a top four finish, sitting two points ahead of fifth place Lazio.
Roma will be hoping to maintain this spirit as they prepare to host RB Salzburg in the second leg of their Europa League Round of 16 clash, coming in with a 1-0 deficit.
Speaking to Rai Radio 1, Tommasi first gave his thoughts on Roma’s 1-0 win over Hellas Verona.
“It’s a complicated season for Verona but they have changed direction in the last month, they have latched onto escaping the relegation zone and it makes us look at the coming months with a different spirit.
“Roma have taken on the tough personality of their coach. It’s difficult to bounce back from a disadvantage against Roma.”
He was asked if Mourinho was the right man for the Giallorossi.
“I don’t know if there is a right man for Roma, but Rome can bring out his personality. What Roma can give in terms of satisfaction when he succeeds is something special.
“It was certainly different for him to win in a place like Rome. He makes people dream and enjoy themselves on and off the pitch.”
The Mayor of Verona gave his thoughts on the usage of technology and VAR in modern football.
“Going back from technology, with televised football, is impossible. People expect that even the few mistakes that used to affect matches no longer exist. There is no going back.
“It has always been a sport with different degrees. Grassroots sport suffers because it would like to be like football on TV instead of thinking of being an amateur sport, with a local presence and giving young people and teenagers the chance to play sport.
“Then we make a mistake by looking at television football, with firings and tensions that are not needed and that distort grassroots football.”
Finally, Tommasi discussed this Serie A season and the incredible work of Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli.
“There’s only Napoli in a league of their own. It’s a league that’s levelled downwards, with many missteps. The European cups will have an impact.
“I think there is a chance to do well in Europe and it could give more appeal to our football. Teams now tend to talk about success when they sell a player for many millions in the Premier League.
“That says a lot about the past when Serie A was a point of arrival and not a starting point.”