In most countries around the world. the capital’s sports clubs enjoy a special status, at times even a privilege that cements their superiority over the rest of the field. However, this is far from being the case in Italian football where the power resides in the Northern metropolis, namely Milano and Torino. On the other hand, the two eternal rivals Lazio and Roma have only assembled five Scudetto titles between them throughout their history, with the most recent dating back to 2001.
But while the Northern giants of Juventus, Milan and Inter dominated the landscape for 21 straight seasons, the defiant Napoli roared back in empathic fashion, luring the Tricolore towards the Southern part of the country in what a truly memorable campaign in the Italian peninsula.
Whether this was a one-off or the beginning of a new era characterized by a more equal playing field remains to be seen, but the Partenopei proved that the Northern powerhouses can be slain by a Southern underdog… at least occasionally.
So could Napoli’s historic feat inspire an uprising in the Eternal City?
Here are five reasons why this could be the perfect timing for Roma to dream of securing their first Scudetto title in over two decades.
Mourinho Winning Mentality
First, let’s address the elephant in the room, or rather the man whose enormous charm and ego would dwarf a mammoth.
Love him or hate him, José Mourinho and his larger-than-life personality have been a key factor in the club’s European success over the last couple of seasons – Perhaps even the most elementary factor in the whole equation.
With his unmatched charisma and unlimited desire for winning, the Special One succeeded in installing a winning mentality at the club, even if the Giallorossi haven’t quite flourished on the domestic scene.
Yet, the Portuguese tactician led the club towards a Conference League title in his first season, in what was Roma’s maiden European triumph. Last season, he was on the cusp of lifting the Europa League but just missed out due to dramatic shootouts at the end of an encounter marred by controversial incidents.
But if Mourinho’s first two seasons are anything to go by, then Roma finally possess the right mindset to go all the way to the Scudetto. The manager never had the depth to compete on several fronts which naturally hindered the club’s domestic campaign, but the management is taking the right measures to rectify it as we shall see in the following paragraph.
Effective Mercato
While calling it a “spectacular mercato” would be an exaggeration, the Romans are certainly enjoying a productive summer session thus far.
Sporting director Tiago Pinto has already pulled off two significant coups by signing young German defender Evan Ndicka and Lyon attacking midfielder Houssem Aouar as free agents. These were two of the most sought-after profiles on the free market.
On the other hand, the Giallorossi are working on balancing the books. But instead of selling some of their most prized assets, they have been raising funds by offloading players who were already surplus to requirements, the likes of Carles Perez, Cristian Volpato, Benjamin Tahirovic and Justin Kluivert.
In a market where the other top Serie A clubs are being deprived of some of their stalwarts, steadying the ship while adding a few solid signings could be enough to tip the scale in the Romans’ favor.
The Winning Jewel
As we mentioned above, Roma have made some interesting additions to their squad while maintaining their core… at least thus far.
But winning the Scudetto requires a talisman’s presence. This can be an unstoppable force of nature like Romelu Lukaku who pushed Inter towards the finish line in 2021, or an unplayable star like Rafael Leao who pulled a rabbit out of the hat every time Milan needed one. The most recent examples are Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen, the atomic pair who terrorized the rest of the field last season.
Luckily for Roma, they are already blessed by the presence of a certain “Jewel” who knows a thing or two about winning the Scudetto title (or perhaps five of those). Of course, we’re talking about the one and only, Paulo Dybala.
As long as the Argentine can keep himself away from the treatment table, La Magica will be able to rely on a top-notch talent who can make all difference at any given moment, whether by scoring a spectacular long-range goal, producing an exquisite assist, or simply leaving opposition players in his wake with his dazzling dribbles.
Power Vacuum
With four different champions in the last four seasons, there seems to be a power vacuum in Italian football following the fall of the most recent Juventus empire.
While dethroning Napoli won’t be an easy task based on the dominance displayed last season, it remains less challenging than overthrowing a long-reigning champion who seized power for the better part of a decade.
Moreover, the Partenopei could be ill-equipped to defend their crown after losing their manager Luciano Spalletti and their squad architect Cristiano Giuntoli, in addition to star defender Kim Min-jae who joined Bayern Munich.
On the other hand, the likes of Milan, Juventus and Inter all appear resigned to losing at least one key player this summer without making comprehensive reinforcements.
Hence, this might just be the most convenient moment for the capital side to launch a Coup d’État and force the rest of the country to succumb to central power.
Pax Romana
We’ve already enlisted some of the tactical and footballing aspects that can lead Roma towards a coveted Scudetto triumph. Yet, these might not be sufficient to drive the squad physically and mentally throughout the long and grueling campaign.
In fact, the players will require the unconditional love and support of the loyal fanbase to overcome the inevitable hurdles that will derail the team’s momentum on some occasions.
But while the squad, management and Ultras had often been on a collision course in some of the past seasons, these factions now seem to be at peace with one another for a change, partially thanks to Mourinho who has been serving as the lynchpin that smoothly binds them all together.
So we started the analysis with the Portuguese manager, only to stumble upon his name at the end of a 360 outlook.
This is no coincidence at all, because if all roads lead to Rome, then all the roads within Rome lead to Mourinho.
But can the Special One guide his troops towards an unforgettable Scudetto? If he’s destined to deliver the title to Trigoria, then this will be the ideal moment to charge forward in the name of Roma.
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