Roma Coach Aurelio Andreazzoli explained why warming up under the Curva Sud gave them the push they needed to beat Juventus.
Roma Coach Aurelio Andreazzoli explained why warming up under the Curva Sud gave them the push they needed to beat Juventus.
“The credit always goes to the players. As a group and a club we stayed close to the players and tried to reassure them in every way we could, telling them how important they can be in a game situation,” said Zdenek Zeman’s replacement.
The team had been subjected to numerous insults, protests and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo even had his car pelted with eggs this week, but they surprisingly warmed up under the Curva Sud rather than in the middle of the pitch.
“Admittedly we haven’t played our best until now, but wanted to get the passion from the fans by warming up under the Curva Sud. They were very generous and allowed us to shake off some of those ghosts.
“It had happened in the past too. I was telling my staff about this and Antonio Carlos Zago experienced it first hand, so we knew that it was worth the risk. We haven’t done so far what the fans deserve, so it was a risk and we knew there could be a blowback, but I told the lads to go out there with their heads held high, because the Curva Sud would not let us down.
“It gave us a sense of certainty, confidence and the ability to fight Juve in terms of character, quality, organisation and vigour.
“We tried to do everything possible to build up their confidence. We put heart and soul into it.”
Andreazzoli also smiled when watching pre-match footage from the locker room, when voices could be heard shouting: ‘Noi siamo la Roma.’
“The phrase ‘We are Roma’ must echo around the halls of the club HQ and not just the locker room. This club is expanding to an extraordinary degree and I can tell you the directors are amazing in their planning, initiative and organisation.
Francesco Totti scored the decisive goal with a screamer clocked at 113km/h.
“Totti can do these things every now and then. Let’s say often! I have had the pleasure of seeing him score over 100 goals,” continued Andreazzoli.
“Is it the best night of my life? No, family comes first! In professional terms I have been in football for many years in every level, but they have given me the chance to coach Roma. Tonight we faced the team I admire the most, as I admire Antonio Conte and their style of football, so to have beaten Juventus is truly satisfying.”
Andreazzoli has truly shelved Zeman’s approach by adopting a 3-4-2-1 this evening with Erik Lamela and Totti supporting Osvaldo.
“We played 3-5-2 at Sampdoria” data-scaytid=”135″>Sampdoria, but my idea of tactics depends on the situation. Lamela and Totti were meant to ‘annoy’ Andrea Pirlo in turns. It seems pointless for me to put a man just marking Pirlo, as either way he’s so talented that he’ll get away.”