Will AS Roma make a Champions League return this season?

AS Roma has struggled for relevance in the Italian game in the last few seasons, even with Jose Mourinho as their manager.

The Portuguese gaffer is one of the best coaches in the world and has constantly brought success to his employers.

He was close to achieving a Champions League place with AS Roma last season as they reached the final of the Europa League.

However, they were beaten by Sevilla, albeit in controversial fashion, with Mourinho insisting his side did not lose that final.

He remains their gaffer, with the club hoping he will finally bring Champions League football back to Rome this season.

Roma faces competition from some of the top European clubs to make the top four in the Italian top flight.

The likes of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Napoli and Lazio also vie for the same four spots, making it one of the most competitive in Europe.

Roma owners have invested significantly in their squad to give Mourinho one of his best teams.

They landed the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Paredes and Renato Sanches in the last transfer window to significantly strengthen the core of their side ahead of the new season.

These signings are players who have been at the top of the European game for a long time, so they are a reason to secure your tickets for AS Roma matches in this campaign.

How can Roma earn a Champions League return?

Roma will have it challenging in either of the two ways they can secure a place in the next Champions League.

One way to achieve this is to win the Europa League, which is something they showed they could do last term.

However, with the likes of Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen among other top sides in the competition, it would be challenging to see Roma reaching as far as they did in the last campaign.

Another way to bring Champions League football back to the Stadio Olimpico is for Roma to secure a place in the Italian top four.

They have a manager who can do this and the players, but the league is a marathon, and it is difficult to earn a place in there unless you are perfect.

The Lukaku factor

Romelu Lukaku’s move to AS Roma in the last transfer window is a deal that could prove to be a masterstroke for the Romans.

The big Belgian had wanted to move to Juventus and had an agreement to move to Turin, but Juve could not sell Dusan Vlahovic and he joined Roma.

Having spent time with Mourinho at Manchester United, the Chelsea loanee will be a big player for Roma in this campaign.

His fine form helped Inter Milan to win the Italian league in 2021, and he was also in their squad that reached the final of the Champions League last term.

Roma expects big things from him and it does not seem like he will fail after he scored three goals in his first four competitive matches for them.

Lukaku has scored 77 goals for the Belgian national team and had a career total of 280 club goals before he moved to Roma, so he knows how to score.

If he keeps getting the goals as he has done at the start of his spell, he will not only fire Roma back inside the top four, but he could also make them league title challengers or champions by the end of the term.

Jose Mourinho is a superb coach

Jose Mourinho could be called an erratic manager and a very contentious character, but no one can take away the fact that he is a talented coach and one of the best in the world.

The Special One has managed some of the most illustrious names and clubs in the world and has lost just one European final, last season’s Europa League.

The Portuguese gaffer has won loads of trophies at FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, among other clubs.

He is a manager who will deliver trophies every season if he has the right players willing to listen to his instructions.

After his poor spell at Tottenham, the only club where he did not win a trophy, he took the job at Roma and has been more comfortable.

However, he knows the fans will start demanding a return to the Champions League sooner than later.

Mourinho cannot say the club has not backed him with good players after their summer spending spree. If the team eventually makes the top four, it would be because of his influence.

Big summer arrivals

Since Mourinho became their gaffer, AS Roma has been impressive in the transfer market, and has signed the likes of Paulo Dybala and Tammy Abraham in the last few transfer windows.

This summer, they went on another spending spree, signing the likes of Paredes, Sanches, Evan Ndicka, Houssem Ouar, Lukaku, Sardar Azmoun, and Rasmus Kristensen, among others.

It is one of their busiest summers in a long time, and this list shows the club landed at least one player in every position on the team.

Strengthening a group as Roma has done means they are prepared for an important season that could end in them winning the league.

However, the Giallorossi supporters would be more than happy to just secure a spot inside the Italian top four and a return to the Champions League.

They have missed Champions League nights and would give up so many things to travel and see their team compete in the top European club competitions.

With the new players they have added to the group, they will feel confident that they can finally return to the Champions League.

An exciting blend of talent and experience

With an average age of 26.7, AS Roma has one of the balanced squad in Italian football in this campaign.

Jose Mourinho knows he needs players who have been around the top of European football to achieve success.

However, he also knows Roma needs more resources to go after the best players on the continent, so he must develop or buy players who are still rough around the edges.

The gaffer has been supported with players who fit into both categories in the last few terms, so he now has the likes of Edoardo Bove, who is just 21 and very exciting to watch.

But the youngster needs the support of veterans, which is why the club is smart to land Lukaku on loan this term.

The Belgian is 30 and has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, so he comes to Rome with a lot of experience.

Nicola Zalewski is another 21-year-old who has impressed Mourinho and keeps getting chances to play and show his talents.

The youngster is one player the manager likes, and his importance to the team shows that Mourinho will field any player who is good enough, no matter their age.

Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stephan El Shaarawy, Paulo Dybala, Rick Karsdorp, and Chris Smalling, among others, will provide the experience and guidance the youngsters need in matches.

This will be extremely important in helping them win as many matches as possible, which should secure a top-four finish for them this term.

Roma knows they are lucky to have some players in their squad and Jose Mourinho as their manager.

They would be smart to take advantage of this and return to the Champions League as soon as possible, otherwise, the players and manager could leave.