A capital disaster. Rome and Lazio were looking for two victories to resume their respective races, instead they are forced to deal with a terrible Sunday. The defeats against Atalanta and Empoli, as well as being unexpected, risk causing rather strong shocks on the continuation of the season, at this point totally indecipherable. The internal knockout of the Giallorossi certainly made the most noise, beaten without ifs and buts by an excellent Atalanta, rightly honored by their fans on their return from the capital.
Other than a proud reaction after Barcelona: all the mental fragility of a Rome still shaken by the European beating was seen at the Olimpico. In the dock, now more than ever, Rudi Garcia. The coach, already in the crosshairs of critics after the Champions League, is now at the center of a real media storm that puts his bench at great risk. “The moment is dramatic – confirmed without too many words the sporting director Sabatini. – The faults are not just the coach's but everyone's, now we have to get together and work to solve the problems. Garcia stays because if he deserves it, we will all get out of this situation together ”.
Important words that will have pleased the person concerned, never so criticized since he coached the Giallorossi. “I don't give up because I'm a fighter – he explained after the match. – We can only shut up, work and try to win against Turin and Bate Borisov." Fundamental matches with no margin for error: should they go badly (especially the Champions League) the revolution would be inevitable.
The signals are not good, as confirmed by yesterday's performance. Booed and mocked by their fans even before the match, Roma played in a confused way and without any kind of personality. Reja's Atalanta, also a former Lazio player, took advantage of it by winning with a clear 2-0 (Gomez in the 40th minute and Denis on a penalty in the 82nd minute), moreover without risking practically anything.
But if Athens cries it's not that there's much to laugh about in Sparta. Lazio too has to deal with a crushing defeat, the umpteenth away match in a very disappointing season so far. Empoli took the lead after just 5' (Tonelli headed) after which they resisted the Biancoceleste siege without too much trouble, more nervous than reasoned. And the nerves were the first to jump in the post match: the fault of some decisions of the referee Fabbri, guilty of having annulled two goals from Klose.
"It's not the first time we've been wronged, if that's the case then we might as well not show up on the pitch" thundered sporting director Tare, "the errors were so obvious that they didn't even deserve a comment" added coach Pioli. Very heavy but not entirely justified outbursts: on the first episode Fabbri is right (foul by Klose on Skorupski), on the second (offside signaled to the German) not even the replay completely clarifies the dynamics (it is not clear whether the pass starts from Matri or from Tonelli ).
However, it remains a bad defeat, which leaves Lazio even in tenth place in the standings. Roma, from that point of view, are doing better but at this rate they will be forced to review their goals. The Capital is crying and, in the light of all this, it has good reason.
