Wednesday opponent: Triestina.

Trieste. The last corner of Italy before Slovenia is a city tormented by border wars, a commercial and cultural crossroads of different peoples. Dramatic, beautiful and rich. In Piazza dell'Unità, the main square, on the right is the historic headquarters of Assicurazioni Generali (the largest insurance company in Europe) and in front of the sea there is a very high halberd, symbol of the city, often a fighter and suffering from wars.

Going east you meet the stadium. Modern and beautiful. The Nereo Rocco. It takes its name from the most important sporting figure in the city. Nereo Rocco was a footballer but above all a winning coach. He started with Triestina, but he won the real successes with Milan. He is the most successful coach in the history of the great Milan, winning 3 Italian Cups, 2 Scudetti, 2 Cup Winners' Cup, 2 Champions Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup. Among others, he was the great master of Gianni Rivera, the legendary Italian champion. Nereo Rocco is the legendary inventor of the catenaccio (defensive phase and counterattack) and it is probably important that this year we Romanists too work effectively on the defensive phase.

The rice fields of San Sabba. Continuing east, you will find the Risiere di San Sabba. Where rice was first produced, the Nazis built a concentration camp there where political prisoners and Jews were imprisoned and killed. It can be considered an Italian concentration camp because Trieste was formally part of the Republic of Salò even though the administration (as a war zone) was German. It symbolizes how much carrion Mussolini and the fascists were, strong with the weak (political prisoners and Jews) and weak with the strong (Nazi Germany). A moment of reflection for an Italian in those suffering and unfortunate rooms is always good.

If Nereo Rocco reminds us of the importance of the defensive phase, we also remember another great in the history of Milan (and Roma) like Nils Liedholm, who reminded us that "As long as we have the ball, the others cannot score". In addition to working on the defensive phase (also allowing Triestina to attack voluntarily), it is important to work on ball possession.

Here my advice stops given my absolute trust in Mourinho. It is not a game to be underestimated, but we can also win easily. Much depends on the good will of our players who also enjoy my full trust. Come on guys! Forza Roma! Let's win by goleada. Daje Roma!

Giordano Sepi