Call it "Theatre of Nightmares". LOSE 6-2 after going up by one goal at half-time, in fact, it would almost seem like a bad dream, were it not for the fact that, unfortunately for the Roma, it's all true. The semi-final first leg of Europa League ends with a defeat for the Giallorossi which, in the light of the first half, appears almost inexplicable: for long stretches the Giallorossi had given the impression of being able to achieve the feat, but then they melted like snow in the sun, making qualification almost impossible. Almost, God forbid, because football has taught us that nothing is taken for granted until the final whistle arrives, but thinking of a maxi-comeback against Manchester United (a 4-0 victory is needed) seems at least unlikely.
"It's a heavy defeat, we had a good first half, then we were conditioned by three players we lost, we couldn't make substitutions and the second half was very difficult - commented disheartened by Fonseca – It's hard to explain this blackout after the first half, after the third goal the team no longer had the mental strength to fight: in the second half we got it all wrong. I am always primarily responsible, I don't want to create alibis. What if two years in Rome are coming to an end? Let's see, right now it's difficult to talk about this ”.
However, everything suggests that this is the case, given that in the capital we are talking about Sarri for weeks now, regardless of how the season ends. The changeover seems practically certain, especially after this debacle on English soil: they were facing a great team, superior both technically and economically, but Roma had a duty to do something more, especially after the first half .
And to say that the match had started very badly, with Bruno Fernandes to surprise the Giallorossi defense (9'). But then Fonseca's team, despite the heavy injuries (out Veretout, Pau Lopez and Spinazzola in 45': absolute record in the Europa League!), had managed to take possession of the field, first finding a draw with Pellegrini from a penalty (15', Pogba's arm), then the lead with Dzeko, finisher of a splendid action finished by Mkhitaryan (34'). It was more than predictable that United played the second half with cold weapons, but no one would have imagined such a surrender by Roma, which instead progressively (and clamorously) surrendered to the opponent.
Cavani he immediately found the 2-2 (48'), then doubled up with an easy tap-in (64'), giving rise to the red tide: Bruno Fernandez (71', penalty for a foul by Smalling on the Matador), Pogba (75') and the new entrant Greenwood (86') made the score even more tennis-like, making the second leg, scheduled for next Thursday at the Olimpico, almost useless.
“We know we have great players, who know how to alternate their positions on the pitch, anyone is capable of creating chances – the happy analysis of Solskjaer – I'm satisfied, we haven't lost our heads, only in five to ten minutes in the first half we weren't up to par but we always remained compact. At halftime we made up for the mistakes we made in the second half."
“The result is positive but it's not over yet – he warned, however Pogba – We have to stay focused and play a good match even in the second leg, with the same mentality". The Frenchman's words may sound like a provocation, at least that's how the Roma players should take them. Because the comeback, to date, seems almost utopian, but can only materialize with a great test of character. It would be the first in these two years of Fonseca management, but never say never…
