As Roma, what the Friedkins don’t say: Juric ignored

In the end they spoke. Or rather, they wrote. And Ryan Friedkin they entrusted their position after the dismissal of Daniel DeRossithe CEO’s resignation Lina Souloukou and the news of the acquisition of Everton to a statement published on the AS Roma website. A text in which they say a few things, above all this: “The possible acquisition of Everton does not change in any way our commitment to Roma”. A necessary reassurance, integrated with another sentence, “Roma remains at the centre of our footballing ambitions”, which preludes a promise: “our commitment in terms of time, resources and energy towards Roma will not be reduced”.

In the note signed by Dan and Ryan Friedkin, however, there are some fundamental things missing. The first, the most obvious, is that they do not name the coach they have chosen and that no one has presented, Ivan Juric. An omission that does not deserve a coach who made himself available, who began to work respecting everyone starting from his predecessor and who also won his first very difficult match at the helm of Roma 3-0. Reference is made to another coach, a hastily lowered flag, who is no longer there. For Daniele, who is Daniele De Rossi, there are words of circumstance: “we have a deep respect for Daniele, convinced that he will have a successful career as a coach, and perhaps one day he will return to Roma”. Little or nothing to explain why it was decided that he should interrupt his work after a few weeks of his three-year contract. He was fired for a decision taken for “the belief that it is the right way to aim for trophies this season”. Implied, but not even that much, he was not capable of doing it.

There is another missing step. No reference, not even indirectly, to CEO Lina Souloukou who just resigned. Not a word to make sense of the latest twist, which came only yesterday.

In a communication that is expressly addressed to the fans, minimal explanations are missing regarding the three news items that have shaken up a season that has just begun: the plausible reasons that led to the dismissal of De Rossi, those that suggested hiring Juric, those that led Souloukou to resign. The step forward was made for the sole reason of giving voice to the ownership but in terms of communication there is still a long way to go. (By Fabio Insenga)