Roma’s new coach Ivan Juric (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images))
New Roma coach Ivan Juric explains his surprising selections for the debut against Udinese, including why he left Manu Koné, Mario Hermoso and Mats Hummels on the bench.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00pm UK time (16.00pm GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.
There is confusion and chaos around the club, on Wednesday morning it was announced that Daniele De Rossi had been fired, replaced by Juric and today the CEO Lina Souloukou also submitted her resignation.
Fans are organizing a protest, boycotting the stands of the Stadio Olimpico for the first 30 minutes of this match.
The new Roma is formed under Juric
Juric has always used a three-man defense and here he immediately changed strategy, but moved Bryan Cristante to midfield instead of relying on the big summer investment Koné.
“We want to change the way we play certain things, some players are responding better than others at the moment. Kone is very talented, but there is a lot of work to be done,” Juric told Sky Sport Italia.
Angelino is used in the back three, so Hummels and Hermoso are again left on the bench. Is it because their fitness levels are not up to par after a summer as free agents without training?
“They’re a little behind in terms of fitness, but not that much. We have five games in the next two weeks, they’ll have time to show what they can do.”
Stephan El Shaarawy will be assigned the role of full-back on the left flank, as Alexis Saelemaekers will be out for two months with an ankle injury.
“At the moment, we don’t have many options on that flank. He has played that role well over the years, so he can do it here too,” Juric concluded.
