It seems to get said too often at Leicester City, but the upcoming game could be one of the biggest in their recent history. For the first time ever they will host a European semi-final against Italian giants AS Roma. So what can the Foxes faithful expect from Jose Mourinho’s Romans.
Conference League is a priority
UEFA was mocked when creating this third-tier European competition, but now, like the King Power outfit, Roma will be putting all their eggs into this one basket. They currently sit eight points behind fourth placed Juventus, meaning little chance of Champions League football. Although, the Italians do have a better chance of making Europe through their league position than their East Midlands opponents, this game is important for different reasons.
Silverware has eluded the Yellows and Reds since 2008 so they will be hoping to make this their first trophy since 1961. That was when they defeated a different Midlands team in blue in the form of Birmingham City.
Jose Mourinho is seemingly the perfect foil to achieve this with his own managerial record in Europe heralding two Champions Leagues and two Europa League/UEFA Cups. In contrast, this is new territory for Brendan Rodgers with his furthest foray into Europe as a manager being only as far as Round of 32. The experience of the bosses could be key to the way this tie is decided.
Roma are the favourites but there are issues
Based on form, La Lupa (The She-Wolf) are improving all the time under the Portuguese. Up until this weekend, they enjoyed a 12 game unbeaten run until Scudetto chasing Inter Milan ended that streak with a 3-1 defeat. Those three goals conceded matched the amount they had allowed in a previous seven; with Mourinho staying on brand with his classic reinforcing defences.
In the European Conference league, its been relatively smooth despite a couple of bizarre defeats to Bodo Glimt with one in the group stage ending an embarrassing 6-1 scoreline. It is telling that in the knockout stages Roma have failed to win both legs. Not to mention making slightly hard work of relatively easy looking fixtures. Given Leicester’s patchy recent form it’s easy to see why they will go into this as underdogs – but there are reasons they should feel confident.
Familiar faces wary of famous Leicester City hitman
As Mourinho no doubt watched the Leicester City vs Aston Villa outing again, he would have been mainly drowsy and baffled at how dull a Premier League game could be. But what would have piqued his interest, is the return of City’s No.9 Jamie Vardy. A world famous name that strikes fear into the opposition.
The fact that Rodgers brought him on only as a substitute will have his opposite number second guessing his own line up. This gives the Northern irishman a few things to mull over.
After starting the season with a classic four-man defence, Mourinho has now switched to a three, tending to favour a 3-4-1-2 formation. In that team you’ll find the familiar faces of former Manchester United centre-back Chris Smalling, midfield playmaker Henrikh Mikhitariyan, formerly of Arsenal as well as United. In addition to ex-Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham.
With a three man defence to attack, Brendan Rodgers could well pip for a strikeforce of two to occupy the spaces in between each CB; with James Maddison in a No.10 role pulling the strings. Wing-backs are sometimes employed by Roma, that is an area Leicester City will need to be wary of.
Defensively, LCFC must keep an eye on top scorer Abraham along with Nicolo Zaniolo. Both pose a threat and Zaniolo bagged a hat trick in the quarter-finals. This tie will be fascinating because the prize is being a step closer to being the first name etched onto a trophy and a trip to Tirana, Albania.