Jose Mourinho is one of the winningest managers of the 21st century. When Roma signed him to be their manager last summer, it was seen as a major coup for the Roman club and a step towards competing for silverware.
Despite not picking up any trophies during his spell with Tottenham Hotspur, Mourinho returned to the norm this past season, winning the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League with Roma. It was Roma’s first European trophy since winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1961 and laid down a marker for what could be a wonderful relationship between club and manager. However, having finished sixth last year, is it possible for Mourinho to have his squad challenging for the Scudetto next season?
Keep Star Players
Roma has never been known as massive spenders in the transfer market, with shrewd acquisitions coupled with developing young players usually their path to success. Nevertheless, Mourinho got some star men back into the fold last season that he was able to pair with signings that hit the ground running. The evidence was in a typically defensively astute Mourinho side, allowing the fifth least goals and a potent attack, scoring two more than Juventus last season.
Winning silverware will have other clubs on alert to their players, but if Mourinho can keep his side together, they could challenge for the Serie A title. In the online betting, they are the fifth favorite to win it all as of June 27th, with odds of 17.00, just behind Napoli, who are at 13.00. Most people view both Milan clubs and Juventus as the top three in Italian football, and they are looking to improve. Still, after nearly a decade of dominance from the Old Lady, the league is at its most unpredictable and competitive.
Roma has a solid back line, but its forwards could be what pushes them over the edge next season. Transfermarkt has Tammy Abraham, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo as the three most valuable assets at the club, with each player being among the best in their position in the league. It’s a forward line that is more than capable of firing Roma to the title. If Mourinho can keep hold of them, he is more than capable of balancing the squad with his brand of football most suited to Serie A these days.
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Further Implement Style
Mourinho has a rather distinctive brand of football. Construct a solid foundation that is built through the spine of the team and have an established back line that shuts up shop while breaking with decisive forwards on the counter. His early Chelsea teams were legendary for their defensive nous, but he doesn’t get enough credit for how clinical and the speed of transition his 2012 Madrid squad had.
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Known as a defensive coach, Mourinho has shown the ability to produce a squad that can put away goals, which a lethal striker usually spearheads. Abraham represents that striker while being flanked by the aforementioned Pellegrini and the wanted Zaniolo. Still, he can also construct the bedrock of his side through a backline led by Chris Smalling and Gianluca Mancini. He currently probably lacks a dominant midfielder who can break up play and distribute the ball, but some clever offseason acquisitions could heavily impact this aspect. It feels like the bones of his squad are there, but one or two signings could cement his style and push them over the top.
Maintain Consistency
What some Mourinho sides have lacked over the past few seasons is consistency. Always capable of conjuring up magic in cup competitions and constructing an impenetrable force for one game, Mourinho was able to win cups with Roma and Manchester United. However, the league is a grueling 38-game onslaught, which requires unrivaled levels of consistency and mental fortitude. It’s easy to get up for a European final, but not always to muster up that same sense of urgency for Sampdoria away.
However, what could be against Mourinho is the lack of squad depth. Injuries during a season are typical during the year, and how you deal with them can sometimes tip the balance of a title-winning season. If a significant player picks up a knock at a crucial part of the campaign, do Roma have the reserves to keep things ticking over? It’ll be interesting to see how Mourinho introduces younger players, which some fans have often questioned his ability to. However, it’s often forgotten how Mourinho positively shaped the careers of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Mesut Ozil and even Marcus Rashford early on. He’s a tough coach, but if a player is willing to give their all for him, he will make them a better player.
Roma has a long way to go to challenge the top three in Serie A next season, but it’s not out of the realms of possibility that Mourinho can construct a title-winning side.
