Atalanta.

It is not always possible to have an attacking attitude. It is not always possible to have only a defensive attitude. It is a match in which Roma will have to play in a balanced way. Knowing how to defend and know how to attack. Likewise, the Ukrainians and especially the Russians must have a balanced attitude tomorrow when they go to dialogue, where a ceasefire must first be decided. Putin's calculations turned out to be a mistake. The Red Army did not conquer Kiev in a few days, indeed not even a large city. Not even Mariupol which would reunite the Donbass with the Crimea, areas already occupied by the Russians.

The Russians were prepared for a 2/3 day war and now there is a shortage of petrol and food. They do not have dominion over the skies. In the meantime, Europe and the US have decided on very heavy sanctions for the Russian economy with the Russian stock market closed for 3 days and the ruble which has lost 30% of its value. Anonymous has launched a powerful cyber campaign against Russia. There are many demonstrations in Russian cities for peace with approximately 7,000 arrests. The Russians should start a long siege of the main Ukrainian cities with very little chance of success (even Sun Tze in the Art of War recalled "Never besiege a city"). Even in the best, and at this point very unlikely, hypothesis for the Russians that by tonight they will be able to conquer the main Ukrainian cities, given the attitude of almost all Ukrainians, who hopes to rule quietly with Yanukovych or another puppet president ?

Why then ask the parties for a balanced attitude? Because in any case an honorable exit must also be guaranteed to the Russian side, avoiding a further escalation of the conflict. Not always everything goes as we expected. Plan A does not always succeed and we need to think of a decent Plan B for all parties in the field, also because the alternative of a prolongation of the war could mean a struggle for the succession of Putin. In this case, I cannot even exclude a revolution and / or a civil war, which would be yet another historical course and appeal of the twentieth century as already happened with COVID compared to twentieth-century Spanish.

We are therefore at a turning point in history. A turning point for Ukraine, for Russia, but also for Europe and for NATO. It is right for Ukraine to enter Europe. You have shown that you deeply feel European values such as democracy and freedom. It is time for Europe to think seriously about a common army and a real political federation with the European Parliament that must gain importance on the European Council and the microscopic (even in the sense of microscopic intelligence) nationalist interests, perhaps even with a fiscal European union. . NATO, when Russia has stabilized with a new government that has the consent of the overwhelming majority of Russians, will have to be rethought in the light of a closer partnership with Russia and China. Finally, the UN must force the countries with the atomic bomb to a real, total and synchronized disarmament.

Likewise, this match can be a turning point for Roma. Winning this match could open up new horizons, especially in the long term, but the opponent is strong and has found good form.

Gasp deploys defense 3 or defense 4 with a very free interpretation (linked to attack opportunities and free spaces). Phases of pressing alternate, with the central defenders trying to advance the attackers to phases of defense and counterattack. Both the formation with 3421 and 4231 leads them to have 4 midfielders in the central area and in the center they are very good with ball recovery, especially with high pressure.

Muriel and Ilicic are left. They are very good with triangles (especially with Pasalic, who also has an excellent long range shot) and with finding the third man.

Pessina is very insidious with the insertions without the ball. Pasalic is a midfielder, but he can be deployed as a central striker, becoming a maneuvering striker, but also with a good sense of goal. They attack on their right either if they deploy Zappacosta there, or if they deploy Hateboer there. On their right side, our left, Hateboer seeks dialogue with Koopmeiners, Pessina and Freuler, with the Italian more insidious with dribbling, the triangle and the consequent insertion and the Swiss very good with the cross for Pasalic.

As left-back he can be deployed either Pezzella or Zappacosta. In this case Zappacosta is more dangerous in the offensive phase, while Pezzella is better in the defensive phase. Boga plays as a left winger, very good at going towards the center to shoot a right turn. We will have to attack well especially on our right, their left with Karsdorp and Zaniolo. In this case, it is important to put the crosses intelligently even for the players coming from behind.

To overcome the excellent man game of the Bergamo players, the best tactic is a forward-backward-forward pass. Specifically, the attacker must go back, unload the defender who must throw long on the wing in the offensive phase.

Balance and plan B are necessary in war and football (after all, Churchill said that we Italians played football as if we were fighting in war). We are at a turning point in history and for Roma. If it will be a period of light, it is also up to each of us. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi