Veteran Coach Arrigo Sacchi says that Juventus are a better team than Roma, and that the latter will need to do ‘something exceptional’.
The former Milan and Azzurri tactician was interviewed by Il Messaggero, where he gave his opinion about the two title contenders.
The Giallorossi are currently chasing after a three-point difference in the standings, and Sacchi was asked whether the Bianconeri deserved their advantage.
“Yes, and for many reasons,” said the proponent of total football. “For one thing it's the location that makes a difference. In Rome you live well and it's easier to get distracted.
“You need players who are exemplary professionals. Besides, the Bianconeri are accustomed to winning and staying at the top. When a player comes to Turin he knows that he will have to live there thinking only of success.
“Allegri's team is more complete, and more determined on the pitch.
“But when Roma do play well, they are better than their rival. They are more lively and they show a more beautiful game.
“In any case, three points are nothing. If the difference went the other way, I'd say that the championship was completely open.
“But to close it up, Roma must do something exceptional, since they are technically and tactically behind. Ball possession is not sufficient, nor the first-rate individuals that Garcia has at hand.
“[Garcia] has certainly done a good job. In this season so far he has been unlucky – a lot of injuries and some unfortunate choices in the mercato.”
Sacchi was asked why Roma often do not convince against the big teams, as in their 0-0 draw against Milan last Saturday.
“I don't look at their adversaries, I look at how they behave,” said Sacchi. “They are completely lacking in the defensive phase.
“If they had the same organisation as Empoli when facing opponents with the ball, they'd already be ahead of Juve.
“Some of their fundamental players from last season now have one more year on their shoulders - [Morgan] De Sanctis, [Douglas] Maicon, [Daniele] De Rossi, [Francesco] Totti, not to mention [Ashley] Cole and [Seydou] Keita.
“Gervinho is still important, but he goes off on his own a bit too much. And the team is unable to keep the same rhythms as last year. Sometimes many of them just walk.
“They lost the brilliance that characterised them. Their liveliness and their enthusiasm was translated into their performances and therefore into results.”
One of the differences between the current season and the previous one is the fact that Roma are now competing on the European front, which according to the USA '94 finalist saps the Giallorossi of their energy.
“Last year [Coach Rudi] Garcia had the opportunity of training his players the whole week, and it showed. The Champions League weighs more than the Europa League. But you still lose something when you play midweek.”
Finally, Sacchi argued that neither Roma nor Juventus properly know how to execute pressing.
“Roma don't know it very much. When they decide to go pressing, they do so with minimal effort and no conviction. Garcia has too many specialists, and they really don't know what pressing is. They just don't have the technical qualities for it.
“Nainggolan, a great player and right now the most active in the group, sometimes makes a go for it – but then it's not pressing, it's just effort. The Giallorossi do not move and they do not behave as a team.
“What Garcia needs is total players, and he has precious few of those.
“Juventus, when it comes to pressing, are incapable of sustaining it. Against Sampdoria, two Sundays ago, they only held it for half an hour.”
