Rudi Garcia admits he “didn’t understand the Roma fans” hurling insults at his players when he first arrived.
The French Coach is at his first Serie A experience and won the opening 10 games of the season, a new League record.
Rudi Garcia admits he “didn’t understand the Roma fans” hurling insults at his players when he first arrived.
The French Coach is at his first Serie A experience and won the opening 10 games of the season, a new League record.
“I work the way I always have done and don’t think I do it any differently to my colleagues,” he shrugged to La Gazzetta dello Sport’s magazine Sport Week.
“I knew of the great passion that the Roma fans had and understood their disappointment for the way last season went, as it ended with a derby defeat in the Coppa Italia Final.
“However, I didn’t understand why the Roma fans continued to insult my players. The team had to be reconstructed in psychological terms but, other than intervening on the effects of the protests, I immediately realised I had to work on the causes.
“The point of football, first and foremost, is to entertain the people who go to the stadium in order to enjoy a match. Cheering on your team should be a fun thing!
“I tried to protect the players so they could rediscover their confidence and the joy of being on a football pitch,” continued Garcia.
“Rarely have I seen such cohesion in a locker room, as there was great respect and admiration between everyone. I think this was created by the difficulties they had to overcome together.”