Friedkin fury: January shake-up looms for Roma, veterans at risk

The Friedkin family’s patience with Roma has reached its breaking point following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Como. Dan and Ryan Friedkin, the club’s owners, were reportedly furious with the team’s performance, especially after recent victories against Lecce and Braga had raised expectations.

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the American owners have now decided that significant changes are necessary come January. While they continue to support manager Claudio Ranieri, the Friedkins believe a shift in mentality is crucial for the team’s success. This decision puts several long-standing Roma players in the spotlight, including Bryan Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Gianluca Mancini. Even World Cup winners Paulo Dybala and Leandro Paredes are not exempt from scrutiny.

Other players who have underperformed, such as Mario Hermoso, Nicola Zalewski, and Eldor Shomurodov, may also face uncertain futures at the club.

Ranieri himself acknowledges the need for improvement, stating, “If there’s an opportunity to enhance the squad, I won’t hold back.” The manager is particularly concerned about Roma’s away form, with the team winless in their last 15 away matches.

The Como defeat highlighted several issues for Roma. While the first half performance was satisfactory, the team crumbled in the second half. Ranieri criticized the marking on Como’s first goal, questioning why a midfielder was tasked with marking a striker.

The integration of new signing Artem Dovbyk also remains a work in progress. Ranieri emphasized the need for the team to adapt their play style to suit the Ukrainian striker better, either by providing through balls for him to chase or delivering more crosses into the box.

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