AS Roma’s recent history has been somewhat tumultuous, and talking to Roma fans about the Champions League will probably cause them some distress as the team is having to put up with the Europa League for now. This could be a stepping stone for the team as they are trying to once again become European contenders. The Conference League was perhaps step one on this long journey, but what will it take if Roma are to challenge for the Champions League?
The Champions League odds presented at Betway can change on the turn of a single match. Of course, this season, Roma are having to put up with the Europa League but the Champions League betting odds for next season might see the Italian sleeping giants back in the biggest competition in Europe.
Elite Level Experience (Hummels and More)
Some people would argue that the current team Roma possesses just doesn’t have a great deal of experience winning things or getting to the latter level of tournaments. There are plenty of experienced individuals in the team but not all of them have played in huge matches.
This is one of the reasons why it was perhaps very shrewd of Roma to bring in Mats Hummels, even though the veteran defender may have his best years behind him. The experience that the German international brings is incredible. A World Cup Final, European Finals, titles, and more. Hummels is a serial winner compared to a lot of other players.
The Hummels deal was done late into the summer and there has still been a battle to get him fit in time for the important fixtures the team has coming up. The German has had injuries throughout his long career but there is a good chance that he will get up to speed shortly. He’s been on the bench for recent games and is gradually regaining his fitness.
Roma might need to bring in more similar signings to add experience to the ranks. While there are a lot of players now 30+ in the team, not a lot of them have the sort of trophy cabinets that Hummels has!
Young Players to Reach Potential
Roma has a lot of young players on the books. Niccolò Pisilli is one that is thought to be a real prospect for the future and even recently made his debut for Italy. Roma’s budget isn’t going to allow them to bring in lots of world class players so the option that the team has is to develop its own talent. Pisilli is one example of this and a player with a “high ceiling” as they say in football.
Tommaso Baldanzi is another excellent prospect with an amazing record at youth level for Roma and Italy. He’s 21 now and starting to get a look in at Roma, playing some games for the first team.
These players will really need to be nurtured if they are to become key for Roma moving forward. Realistically, if the team is to become a significant force in Europe, then there will have to be shining stars coming through.
A Sturdy Management Structure
Frequent changes in management have disrupted Roma in recent years, making it difficult for the team to build a cohesive squad and establish a consistent playing style.
The instability began after José Mourinho’s two-and-a-half-year tenure ended in January 2024. His successor, former midfielder Daniele De Rossi, lasted just eight months despite signing a three-year contract that summer.
Roma then turned to ex-Torino manager Ivan Juric, but his stint was even shorter. The Croatian oversaw just 12 matches, recording 4 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses before his dismissal.
In search of stability, Roma announced the return of Claudio Ranieri on Thursday. The 73-year-old, taking charge for his third stint with the club, will lead the team until the end of the season before transitioning into a senior executive role.
Roma will proceed with their coaching search over the coming months, and Ranieri will indefinitely have significant input in that decision.
Whichever direction Roma decide to go for, this is likely to be a long-term project. A manager will need to come in and provide a way for players to build for the future. Short termism is not likely to bring any sort of glory to the club, especially as the team doesn’t have the budget of some of the other Italian giants.
Roma’s current team is a long way away from the Champions League right now. Sitting in the bottom half of the league is not ideal and thoughts of getting into the top four positions feel distant. A good managerial appointment is necessary to make progress and restore Roma to former glory.
