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But the denouement didn’t arrive until the Giallorossi produced an upstage and finalised a deal for the versatile and atypical Kevin Strootman. In plain words, this was one big major coup as the Dutch national ready to be eaten alive with high-end advertisement contracts and much more universal recognition at many other top clubs in Europe. Therefore, working in unison with myriad departures and a tight budget, Rudi Garcia had manipulated the transfer window to his advantage.
Rudi Garcia Unchained
The former Lille manager is a great believer and an even better and perfect executor of the 4-3-3 system. He played it all throughout his time at France and has shifted it with ease to Italy. His approach towards football is explained via his teams playing solid, mobile, purposeful free-flowing football. That also demands his players to be stamina-wise impeccable and technically unshakeable. There is a lot of short passing and it involves more of running both on and off the ball. Also, Garcia gives surfeit freedom to his fullbacks to move forward and attack.
Here are a few things he has implemented at his new club.
1. At Lille, his midfield triumvirate comprised of Rio Mavuba (the sitter), Florent Balmount (the workhorse) and Yohan Cabaye (the creative force). And it is gaping to see that he has found a similar trio at Roma pretty quickly, Daniele De Rossi (the sitter), Kevin Strootman (the workhorse) and Marilem Pjanic (the creative force). Together, they have been vital for the Giallorossi, dictating play, playing one-touch football, tracking back when needed and sending out long balls every now and then.
2. Another impressive detail he has added is to make Roma play without a recognized striker. Though Totti is assigned a forward central role he floats throughout the park, dictating play and making the decisive passes. Now, as the full backs charge forward, the left or right wingman can cut in and take up that central role. This is not exactly a “false nine” as such a system cannot be perfected in limited time. No wonder Roma have 9 different scorers in this new campaign.
3. The consistent centre back pairing of Leandro Castan and Mehdi Benatia has been the most vital component for instant success in my view. They have started all 6 games on a row and have conceded just one goal in the league.Particularly Benatia has been phenomenal this season. He has acclimatized to new surroundings in no time and is already being considering a fan-favourite. Along with them, Balzaretti and Maicon have also stepped up their quality and work rate, going forward as well as tracking back and putting in a solid shift in defence. Therefore, Rudi Garcia has made it sure that the big money PSG signing, former-Roma man Marquinhos is never going to be missed.
4. A bit eccentric it may seem but our French guy has a “Conseil Des Sages” [council of wise men] made of 5 or 6 players who he consults on team issues. The theory is simple. The council reports to the coach on a regular basis to discuss the well-being of the team and any other issues. And the players in the council are chosen on the basis of respect and experience (yes, Totti is in it) Using this technique, Garcia feels he will be able to “take the temperature of the group” and chances are that the players would feel like leaders of the project. It also helps in the day-to-day functioning of the team and would be a better way of solving minor squabbles.
Now with 6 games gone and at top of the league life can’t get any more meaningful and pleasure-filled for the Romans. It has been their best start to a season since 2005 and the performances on pitch are reciprocated by the players’ confidence and dressing room harmony.
However, not always all that starts well ends well. Roma and Garcia still have lots of work to do. The Serie A is a huge ocean filled with boisterous sharks ready to pounce and take expedient advantage if there is one. Juventus, Inter, Napoli, Fiorentina and even AC Milan (to some extent) have a say in the title race.But as of now, the celebrations are still on-going at the Capital. Many already call it a resurrection. Many hail it a renaissance. But I predicate this to be the inception of it all.
