Only Rudi Garcia has done better in the new millennium. Daniele De Rossi leaves behind Mourinho, Spalletti, and even Capello.
7 games, 6 wins, 7 goals conceded but, most importantly, 20 goals scored with 8 different scorers. With Daniele De Rossi, Roma has definitely turned things around, and the change in trend is certified by the improvement in numbers in all the fields (consider that with Mourinho on the bench, they had scored only 7 goals in the last seven games under the Portuguese).
Since the turn of the millennium, only Rudi Garcia has matched him in his first 7 matches in charge of the Giallorossi. In the 2013/14 season, the one with 10 consecutive victories, Garcia’s team also scored 20 goals with 9 different scorers, including Daniele De Rossi (who scored on his debut against Livorno away from home). Mourinho’s first Roma had stopped at 16, Fonseca’s at 11, while Di Francesco’s at 15. Even Spalletti 2.0, who took over from Garcia on the 20th matchday, had 19 goals. Far behind is also Fabio Capello’s first Roma, which scored 11 goals in the first 7 matches under the Friulian coach.
DDR, a destroyer on the road as well: only Garcia surpasses him
In addition to the aforementioned numbers, let’s not forget the 3 consecutive away victories. In just 98 days (a little over three months), Roma went from Mourinho’s criticisms to De Rossi’s praise: “With some teams, I preferred playing away rather than at home. Some gangs of bandits enjoyed playing away. We as a team don’t do that, but there are people who enjoy the comfort of home because they miss their mom or grandma who makes them sweets. We have a bit of this problem here.” These were the words spoken by the Special One last November 25th, but they now seem light years away from today’s perception.
De Rossi has won all 3 away games played so far (against Salernitana, Frosinone, and Monza) but this time he is surpassed by Garcia, who had one more away game. The Frenchman, in fact, won 4 consecutive away games in his first 7 matches with the Giallorossi. Since the 1999/2000 season, when Fabio Capello arrived, no one else has managed to do better.
