Di Francesco lifting Roma to new heights

MILAN: Eusebio Di Francesco has stamped his mark on AS Roma during a rollercoaster first season which has seen the side from the capital return to the Champions League semi- finals for the first time in 34 years.

The fast- talking 48-year- old, whose reputation is one of an astute tactician with a talent for attractive attacking football, replaced Luciano Spalletti, who departed for Inter Milan after a second- placed Serie A finish in 2016-17.

Taking over a side missing retired club legend Francesco Totti, Di Francesco has set about moulding the club to his style, as they sit third in Serie A and are into the Champions League final four for the first time in over three decades.

They come up against Liverpool — over two legs starting in Anfield on Tuesday — a side who dramatically beat them on penalties in the 1984 European Cup final in the Stadio Olimpico.

“Now we’re al l convinced that we have the best coach we could possible have,” said club sporting director Monchi after Roma shocked Barcelona 3- 0 at the Stadio Olimpico to secure a 4- 4 aggregate draw and reach the semi-finals on away goals. “It’s his victory.” For that game, Di Francesco switched for the first time to a three- man defence from his favoured 4- 3- 3 formation.

“The difference for me was Di Francesco, he changed a lot of things and he got it spot on,” said captain Daniele De Rossi.

Named after the legendary Portuguese player Eusebio, football is a family tradition with Di Francesco’s 23-year- old son Federico a talented midfielder with Serie A rivals Bologna.

He is often compared to Jurgen Klopp for his coaching style and dress sense, standing on the sidelines dressed in tailored suits and wearing colourful hipster glasses. — AFP