In the 1 4 finals of the Italian Cup, Roma lost 0-1 to the sworn enemy Lazio, and Mu Shuai's tactics were counterattacked, and the four major were empty and suspenseful.
In the high-profile local derby, Jose Mourinho's Roma suffered an unexpected defeat. In the Coppa Italia 1 4 finals, Roma lost 0-1 to arch-rivals Lazio, ending their adventure in the cup early. Jose Mourinho's tactics were countered by opponents, and the team fell into an embarrassing situation where all four were empty.
At the start of the season, Roma's duo struggled in Serie A, finishing 8th and 7th respectively, and the distance from the Champions League zone seems to be getting farther and farther away. To make up for their decline in the league, the two teams turned their attention to the Coppa Italia in the hope of making a breakthrough in the cup.
The city derby has always been a long-awaited event for fans, and this clash was a watershed moment in Roma's fate. In the past five meetings, Roma have only won 1 win, 1 draw and 3 losses, and this time, fans are focused on whether Mourinho can lead the team to victory over mortal enemies.
Jose Mourinho made changes to Roma's line-up from the start of the game, adopting a familiar 3-5-2 formation, with Romelu Lukaku and Dybala up front. In contrast, Lazio boss Maurizio Sarri opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with the likes of Pedro unexpectedly sitting on the bench and Immobile missing out due to injury.
In the first half, both sides went back and forth, but neither could find a flaw in the opponent's defense. At half-time, the score was still 0-0, leaving the whole game in a stalemate.
At the start of the second half, Jose Mourinho tried to change the course of the game by making adjustments, but it didn't work out that way. In the 50th minute, Lazio took advantage of an attacking opportunity, Huysen fouled in defence, and the referee decisively awarded a penalty. Zaccagni hit and Roma were 1-0 down.
Mourinho has made a number of personnel changes since then, but none of them have been able to change Roma's decline. It wasn't until the 88th minute that Roma leveled the score at 1-1 through Dybala's penalty. However, despite Roma having 55 per cent possession and leading their opponents in the number of shots on goal throughout the game, they were unable to change the situation in the end, and the score of 1-1 made Roma unfortunately eliminated.
After the game, Roma remain in 8th place in Serie A, four points off the Champions League zone. In the situation of fighting for the fourth, the team urgently needs to adjust its form and reverse the decline.
The winter transfer window has begun, and the future of Roma's number one star Dybala is in the spotlight. According to authoritative transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Dybala may join Roma, and this is inseparable from the influence of Jose Mourinho. At the call of Jose Mourinho, Dybala accepted Roma's invitation and contributed 23 goals and 14 assists to the team, becoming the mainstay of the team's forward line.
Roma's woes are not limited to the results, as successive league defeats to Bologna and Juventus, with only a win over Napoli, have led to a drop to seventh in the table.
Jose Mourinho has faced a lot of pressure during his time in charge of Roma and his European prospects have become uncertain. Roma fans and players have expressed their support for Mourinho, but in the face of the pressure of fighting for the fourth, Mourinho still needs to make in-depth adjustments to the overall strength and tactics of the team.
The clouds of Roma's four emptiness have not yet dissipated, and how to find form in the rest of the season has become an urgent problem for Mourinho and the team to solve. And whether Dybala joins Roma will also become a major focus of attention in the winter window.
Jose Mourinho suffered a waterloo in the city-to-town derby, as his side failed to gain enough of an advantage at crucial moments and were eventually eliminated on penalties. Lazio were also impressive, with a solid defensive line and the chance to knock out their rivals and advance to the last four.
During the game, Jose Mourinho made changes to Roma's line-up in a 3-5-2 formation in an attempt to find a balance between attack and defence. However, Lazio's Maurizio Sarri also had a clear tactical plan, adopting a 4-3-3 formation that managed to limit Roma's attack.
Lazio's penalty goal was the turning point of the game, with Huysen's recklessness in defending costing Roma. Although Roma equalised through Dybala's penalty in the second half of the game, they were unable to fight back and fell into the predicament of elimination.
Overall, the game showcased the tactical games and individual performances that often occur in football. Jose Mourinho's tactical changes did not work, while Lazio managed to advance through a combination of chemistry and solid defence. With the clouds looming over Roma, the team will need to quickly adjust their form and find their winning momentum in the coming games.
The arrival of the winter transfer window also provides Roma with some opportunities to make changes to the squad. The arrival of Dybala may be able to breathe new life into the team, but it will be time to see if it can be a key factor in Roma's coming out of their predicament.
The defeat was a heavy blow for Mourinho, but as an experienced coach, he should be able to lead the team through the storm. Roma fans are looking forward to the team coming up in the next games to show their strength and salvage the current bad situation. The gloom of the four emptiness may be short-lived, but as long as Rome can stay united and work hard, there are still opportunities for the future.