The trouble: Dybala. Pellegrini and Abraham left before 90′. Then Mancini and Ibanez risked by moving the best (El Shaarawy and Belotti) to the end… when Roma no longer needed it
June 1 – BUDAPEST
One penalty scored out of three. Others were not used to decide the Europa League final and deliver the trophy to Sevilla. Mendilibar’s players didn’t make a mistake, Roma’s too many and it’s inevitable then to wonder what’s behind the decision to send those men to the eleven-metre spot.
THE ABSENT
—
Let’s start from the assumption that the first three Giallorossi penalty takers were all already on the bench. Dybala, who had been in doubt until the last minute, came out after 68 minutes and scored a goal: you really couldn’t ask for more. Pellegrini resisted until the end of the first overtime. Abraham forfeited in the 75th minute, leaving the pitch rather battered.
THE FIRST THREE
—
The choice was not easy for Mourinho who sent Cristante on the spot first, with Sevilla having already scored their penalty. The midfielder often beats them in training and against Sassuolo this season he had already shot one, hitting the full post, with the ball then put into the net by Bove. Yesterday Cristante did the trick on him, then it was Mancini’s turn, who had never been seen from eleven meters in yellow and red. Why him – and then Ibanez who is more or less in the same situation as his partner in the department – and not the players with the best feet? The idea is that Mourinho wanted to keep the most reliable players for the final penalties, the ones in which tension is skyrocketing. But there are also those who say that he bet on those three because they are men of established character, already solid, ready to take on certain responsibilities without thinking of risking their entire career.
THE LAST TWO
—
If the first penalties had gone better, the last two Giallorossi destined to face Bounou would have been El Shaarawy and Belotti. And if Wijnaldum and Zalewski had gone ahead. The men who kick better. The ones that could have made a difference. But they couldn’t prove it.
STATISTICS
—
Wrong choice then? It’s too easy to talk now, but there is a statistic that can make you think: Mourinho has reached penalties for his teams in eleven games, losing nine times. The only two victories? With Tottenham against Chelsea and in the Super Cup with Inter. Against Rome…
June 1, 2023 (change June 1, 2023 | 3:09 pm)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED
