It’s time for choices. One or two strikers, three or four defense, Cristante central defensive or again in midfield: it’s up to Mourinho to decide. The emergency certainly does not facilitate it. The situation in defense (out Viña, Calafiori, Spinazzola, Smalling with Kumbulla, struggling with muscle fatigue, who will perform an audition tomorrow) plus the conditions of Pellegrini (he still worked separately yesterday but goes towards the forfeit), not the they help. José’s orientation is, however, to continue with the experiment of the two points. The reason is simple: to transform “Abraham into a monster” (copyright of the Special One), flanking him with an attacker is the ideal solution.
The Venice race confirms this. If in the last few outings the center forward had struggled to shoot even on goal, in the 90 minutes in the lagoon Tammy scored a goal, hit a post, got himself a penalty (canceled by the Var for a heel from Pellegrini offside), started the action from Shomurodov’s goal and repeatedly missed the brace. Simply another. And Mou, beyond the final knockout, showed his appreciation: “We created many scoring opportunities and several chances”. The two points in fact give greater depth to the team with Abraham who, flanked by the Uzbek, can think less about retreating and finally has a partner ready to engage at least one of the two central defensive opponents. Tactical experiment that had the three-man line as a defensive base.
THE CONTRAINDICATION
In the past, the Special One has opted for this module when its teams were in trouble. It had happened with Manchester United but above all with Tottenham. However, they have always been partial experiments, linked to a fairly limited time frame. Taking it forward to Roma, among other things, could run into a contraindication. In fact, in the summer the team was built to play 4-2-3-1. Ergo, it is full of attacking midfielders. Apart from Pellegrini (irreplaceable for the coach), in 3-4-1-2 Zaniolo and Mkhitaryan would struggle to carve out a role (only Nicolò entered the race in Venice). Technical luxury that Trigoria cannot afford. To continue with the option of the two strikers, perhaps not on Sunday given the defections, the 4-3-1-2 is being examined in the future. With this in mind, the January transfer market and the arrival of another midfielder will be fundamental. Returning to the present, and therefore to the Genoa match, tomorrow will be the key day to understand the team’s set-up.
I DUBBI
Everything will depend on the auditions that await Kumbulla and Pellegrini. The captain’s recovery is unlikely, hopefully the defender’s. In fact, having him available would allow Cristante to stay in the median. Otherwise the Italian national team would slip behind, to decide Veretout’s partner (Villar ahead), and a run-off in the role of attacking midfielder. In the summer on a couple of occasions (but with the 4-2-3-1) it was the turn of Mkhitaryan (agent Raiola sibylline yesterday: “Go to January? Ask Roma”). With Bodo / Glimt, José tried Zaniolo at the beginning of the second half, leaving the Armenian in the locker room. Experiment that did not give positive responses.
CLICK TO TAMMY
A Rome therefore in an emergency that relies on the rediscovered vein of Abraham. Scoring in Venice, an encore in the national team against San Marino and the desire to never stop. Despite the modesty of the opponents, the goal scored against England was really very beautiful: knee stop with his back to the goal and then turning, without letting the ball fall to the ground, shot to cross on the far post. Proof that scoring helps scoring. In the last few days he confided that he was surprised by the difficulty of Serie A: «In England we are always used to attacking. Now I’m learning how to break the opponent’s defenses ». Doing it with Shomurodov close, it will be easier.
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