Two goals down after only 17 minutes for a penalty awarded by the Var followed by a mistake by Ibanez. Game immediately uphill. Some dodgy decisions once again by the referee quite questionable. Two reds for Karsdorp and Mancini. Milan v Roma would seem all enclosed here. And instead in the middle there is also a performance below expectations, despite the almost complete team with a Milan instead decimated by very important absences.
The referee certainly influenced the progress of the match at some point but this time Roma are the main culprits for this defeat. As Mourinho says, the quality seen on the pitch was of a very low level, with approximate gameplay, many errors in the assists, not good enough when try to finalize the opportunities. We expected a very different desire and determination.
On the contrary, Milan made a ‘virtue’ of necessity’, with a bench that is obviously of a much higher level. We are as disappointed as the draw at home with Sampdoria before the break, Sampdoria who promptly lose at home against a battered Cagliari. Another opportunity thrown to the garbage bin, to make that qualitative leap’ and to stay attached to the fourth-place train. But at this point it is reasonable to think that the squad is not competitive enough, that we need reinforcements of a very different depth, which Mourinho perhaps expected more at the beginning of the season.
The January transfer market will bring a couple of players on loan like Maitland-Niles and possibly Sergio Oliveira. Not just two good players but potentially ready to play. The first is a very versatile player of level, from the Premier League, even if this year he played little as a starter at Arsenal, but who can certainly make a difference in Serie A. He will be very useful, and not only to make Karsdorp catch his breath but also in midfield. As well as Oliveira, great with the ball with a lot of stamina and personality, even if he was not all the time at Porto, however he is what is needed at the moment. Waiting for Juventus at the Olimpico, we need to raise our heads immediately, but we will need another head. Always Forza Roma.