The title says it all – there have been and will continue to be plenty of reasons to enjoy the latest bridesmaids of Italian and English football, AS Roma and Liverpool FC. Two storied clubs who have suffered relatively unsuccessful spells but finally having delivered on their promise to mount a contest on the pinnacle of European football.
These clubs share more than just the colour red and a rivalry stemming from two European Cup finals contested against one another – they both have accomplished 26 victories respectively in their domestic competitions, hence the title. More importantly, they demonstrate and solidify the premise that to achieve success in football by showing there is no path set in stone and to enjoy it while you can – there’s no telling how long it will last.
The tale of their seasons could not have been written more differently. Liverpool essentially lost the title days before the season’s conclusion with several slip-ups; Roma on the other hand knew around January that the title race was wrapped up and it was Juventus’s to lose. If you are a supporter of either club the heartbreak was massive but tolerable; finishing second is a lot better than what you were used to.
Liverpool were coming off a rather stale first season under Brendan Rodgers by not surpassing hopes but meeting expectations. This time around, Rodgers knew what to expect from his side, one which had stayed relatively intact from the year prior save the additions of reliable centre backs in Toure and Sakho. This single season had worked wonders on fostering familiarity and growth individually and on a squad-wise basis. Their goals predominantly sprung from two sources – Suarez and Sturridge, first and second atop the Premier League scoring charts. This is all common knowledge.
They were a team consistent throughout, week in and week out but that is what was so incredible about their season. The players knew what their roles were, what was expected and guess what? They delivered. It is a rather simple formula, one which much credit must be handed to Rodgers. As a consequence he was rightly handed an extension for his efforts.
Do not let the high finish of Roma fool you; despite their achievements it was merely a year of transition. Manager Rudi Garcia was brought in after Zeman failed to replicate his past miracles that he had become known for (there’s even a term for his style, “Zemanlandia”). Garcia was charged with playing a more refined and reserved possession game as opposed to the all-out attack employed by Zeman. He utilized the strengths of the middle by relying on the triangle of Benatia, Castan and De Rossi to carry the defensive burden and this allowed Totti to provide the link to his overlapping wingers.
Safe to say, Garcia’s appointment payed off as did the transfers –six starters left to be replaced by six more and the mid-year loans of Nainggolan, Bastos and Toloi definitely aided the club. Roma opened the campaign with ten straight wins (a league record) before stuttering midway through the year. Until Mattia Destro tore up the league in the latter half of the campaign Roma were surprisingly balanced in terms of scoring – he was the only player to make it into double digits during league play.
Although, in the end, they may not have won the title but they did leave the biggest impact on Italian football out of any club. Why? They revitalized the careers of several players who were cast-offs at their previous clubs, bringing them in at bargain prices and allowing them to flourish in this new environment. They actually made a profit through their transfer dealings even though they added more players than were sold. The best example is Gervinho; many people assumed he was a write-off yet his contributions to the squad were invaluable as the season progressed.
Both Liverpool and Roma were in the pole positions for brief periods of time, bouncing back from sub-par campaigns the year prior. Both even had icons in club history retire; Perrotta and Carragher. Their eerie similarities end in the 26 wins they both share. They may have stumbled on their quest for the title yet these bridesmaids have ultimately made good on their promise of the UEFA Champions League. A massive overhaul or a year to mature? Roma and Liverpool demonstrate that both are routes to success and that red is the new colour to watch.
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