Roma suffered a costly setback in the Derby, as Lazio pulled away from them in the standings. They remain firmly in contention thanks to Inter and Milan’s skids. Finishing in the top four is pivotal for the future of the club. Therefore, they won’t relent in Serie A to try to win Europa League, Corriere dello Sport informs.
The Giallorossi did that a couple of years ago, but they were routed by Manchester United in the semi-finals. They eventually managed to grab the seventh place only thanks to a late goal by Henrikh Mkhitaryan against Spezia on the final matchday.
Not qualifying for the Champions League could have very significant ramifications. A few clubs are eyeing José Mourinho. He might be more tempted to jump ship if they missed out, also considering that his contract is up in 2024. Several players are tight with the Special One, for instance, Paulo Dybala, Chris Smalling, and Nemanja Matic. They are also on short-term deals too.
In addition, the top continental competition would guarantee at least €40M in prize money. The windfall would help the Giallorossi navigate their Financial Fair Play restrictions.
Our Take on Roma and the Champions League race
The loss was massive because Lazio are realistically their direct opponents. Inter and Milan should manage to solidify their spots if they get it together just enough. Juventus are a bugaboo for everybody, but that’s beyond their control, and their legal situation won’t be sorted until very late. Teams are always on thin ice when José Mourinho is on the bench. Convincing him to stay might be more influential than a top-four finish transfer market-wise, but it could easily be a virtuous cycle.
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