⚽️🇮🇹 De Rossi's reign in Roma begins!
⚽️🇮🇹 De Rossi's reign in Roma begins!
👋 Ciao a tutti!
Welcome to Calcio Weekly, your comprehensive weekly digest of Italian soccer.
This week, we’re looking into the managerial changes at Roma, we’re following Guillermo Ochoa around Salerno, and we’re finding out why Italian soccer fans aren’t hungry when they talk about a biscotto 🍪
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🐺 Daniele De Rossi takes charge at Roma
There’s been plenty of change in the Italian capital, where superstar coach Jose Mourinho has been replaced by interim coach and Roman legend Daniele De Rossi.
🫡 Mourinho departed on Tuesday after 929 days in charge of the Giallorossi, having led them to Europa Conference League glory in 2022, and the Europa League Final last season.
🗣️ “We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club,” said Roma’s American owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin.
📉 Roma sit in ninth position, with no wins in their last three Serie A matches. Mourinho’s last game at the Stadio Olimpico was a Coppa Italia loss to city rivals and nants Lazio.
DDR | La prima intervista di Daniele De Rossi da allenatore della Roma
🤗 De Rossi is no stranger to the Roma faithful, having played 18 seasons for the club. The much-loved defensive midfielder would have been a one-club man, like his legendary teammate Francesco Totti, save for a final season at Boca Juniors.
👨💼 This will be the World Cup winner’s second managerial job. Last season, he was appointed as coach at SPAL, who were relegated to Serie C following his departure in February.
⚠️ Oh, and he has the best tattoo in all of soccer.
⏭️ Up next for De Rossi and Roma: While Mourinho may be missed by many, the new coach can expect a hero’s welcome when Roma hosts Hellas Verona at the Olimpico on Saturday (12pm ET on Paramount+).
🇺🇸 Christian Pulisic earns December Player of the Month Award
Before AC Milan’s 3-1 home win against Roma — which would prove to be a swan song for Jose Mourinho — Christian Pulisic was presented with December’s Player of the Month Award.
⚽️ Pulisic notched two goals and two assists in five league games in December, and also found the net in the Champions League victory over Newcastle.
🥜 During the match over the weekend, the USMNT star pulled off an outrageous nutmeg…
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🇺🇸 On top of his recognition from Serie A, Pulisic was also announced as U.S. Soccer’s Male Player of the Year this morning. “It’s an honor to win this award again for the fourth time,” he said.
🎙️ The American was interviewed by The Athletic this week (🔒 paywalled), where he discussed his time in Milan, the USMNT’s upcoming prospects, and much more...
👏 Dušan Vlahović hits a perfect free kick to keep Juve in title race
Dušan Vlahović scored twice in Juve’s 3-0 win over Sassuolo on Tuesday, the second of which was an inch-perfect dead ball…
😱 Vlahović, who has been involved in five goals in his last four Serie A games, earned a standing ovation for his performance. His American teammate Tim Weah couldn’t hide his admiration when the Serbian’s free kick hit the back of the net…
😮 The win brought Juve to within two points of league leaders Inter. The teams are set to meet at the San Siro on February 4th, in what could turn out to be a title decider.
🏆 The Supercoppa Italiana: everything you need to know
The Supercoppa Italiana kicks off today, when Napoli face Fiorentina (2pm ET on Paramount+).
❓ What is it? Traditionally, The Supercoppa Italiana is contested between the winners of Serie A and the Coppa Italia champions. This season, for the first time, the contest has been expanded to four teams, with the runners-up of both contests joining in.
👕 Who is playing? Reigning Serie A champions Napoli are joined by league runners-up Lazio, in addition to Coppa Italia winners Inter and finalist Fiorentina.
🤔 What is the format? It’s a single-game knockout format, with Napoli facing Fiorentina today and Inter taking on Lazio on Friday. The winners of those two games will contest the final on Monday (2pm ET on Paramount+)
🇸🇦 Where is it being played? For the second consecutive season, all matches are being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
📺 How do I watch? All games are streaming on Paramount+.
🎯 Antonio Candreva has still got it!
Next Saturday marks the 16th anniversary of Antonio Candreva’s Serie A debut, and his beauty of a long-range goal for Salernitana against Napoli shows he still has magic in his boots…
💪 Candreva has five goals and four assists for Salernitana this season.
😎 The 36-year-old is something of a Serie A journeyman, having represented teams including Inter, Lazio, Sampdoria and Juventus.
🤝 Giorgio Chiellini to stay at LAFC
Juventus legend Giorgio Chiellini announced his retirement from the game in December, after playing his final two seasons with Los Angeles FC. The nine-time Serie A winner will now be staying in Crnia for the foreseeable future with a new role…
👏 Chiellini has been appointed Player Development Coach with the Major League Soccer side. He will assist head coach Steve Cherundolo and the coaching staff with first-team player development.
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🇮🇹 Guillermo Ochoa explores Salerno
In the latest edition of our Champions of Made in Italy series, Mexico National Team goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa discusses his connection with the stunning Neapolitan port city of Salerno, where he currently guards the net with Salernitana.
GUILLERMO OCHOA explores the hidden beauty of SALERNO | Champions of #MadeInItaly
🚀 ICYMI: Theo Hernandez fires a rocket past Roma!
During Roma’s aforementioned visit to the San Siro, Theo Hernandez nearly received a bill for breaking the crossbar with his thunderbolt of a left-footed strike!
🇺🇸 We also need to shout out Yunus Musah, who was the width of a post away from a career-defining solo goal…
💬 Calcio Conversations
In culinary terms, a “biscotto” is simply a cookie. However, in Italian soccer, the term has more sinister connotations.
🤷♂️ What does it mean? Biscotto is a colloquial term to describe a game where it is suspected the result has been agreed in advance, to the mutual benefit of both teams.
This can often be an accusation levelled during international tournament group stages. For example, at Euro 2004, Denmark and Sweden played each other, knowing a score draw of 2-2 or higher would eliminate Italy. The game finished 2-2.
It should be noted that such accusations are seldom proven, and often refuted.
❤️ Social Post of the Week: Lazio send their love to Sven
The soccer world was saddened to learn this week that Sven-Göran Eriksson has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
🏆 The Swede coached Lazio for four seasons from 1997-98, delivering two Coppa Italia trophies and their first Serie A title since 1974.
🙏 On Sunday, the fans were only too happy to chant Sven’s name and send him their support.
📺 This weekend on CBS Sports and Paramount+
Thursday January 18th
Napoli v Fiorentina (Supercoppa Italiana semifinal, 2pm ET)
Friday January 19th
Inter v Lazio (Supercoppa Italiana semifinal, 2pm ET)
Saturday January 20th
Roma v Verona (12pm ET)
Udinese v AC Milan (2.45pm ET)
Sunday January 21st
Frosinone v Cagliari (6.30am ET)
Empoli v Monza (9am ET)
Salernitana v Genoa (12pm ET)
Lecce v Juventus (2.45pm ET)
Monday January 22nd
Supercoppa Italiana Final (2pm ET)
🇨🇦 Reading this in Canada? Watch ALL Serie A games LIVE on Fubo - and try it for free! 🇨🇦
Grazie e arrivederci!
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