The Italian Serie A has entered an exciting phase. In the 31st round, rivals "Roma" and "Juventus," who are seriously fighting for a spot in the UEFA Champions League, clashed at the "Olimpico" stadium. This match had the atmosphere of a true derby.
The Turin team managed to open the scoring in the 40th minute with a goal from Manuel Locatelli. It is not easy to lead "Juventus" after a defeat, but "Roma" managed to do just that — more specifically, Eldor Shomurodov did!
Experienced coach Claudio Ranieri had planned to field two forwards – Artem Dovbik and Eldor Shomurodov together, but initially trusted only Dovbik. However, during the break, the coach changed his decision and sent Eldor into the fray.
As a result, in the 49th minute, the Uzbek forward not only scored a goal but also saved his team from defeat. Our Eldor once again showcased a performance worthy of his name at the "Olimpico."
In the post-match press conference, Claudio Ranieri expressed the following thoughts:
– I think a lot about playing Artem and Eldor together. But implementing this requires a thorough analysis from all angles. If I field them together, I will have to assign some of Dovbik's tasks to Eldor. Shomurodov deserves to be in the starting lineup.
However, if I field two central forwards at the same time, I will not have the opportunity to strengthen that position. At the moment, there is no other pure central forward in our team to replace them.
Yes, I want to play with two forwards. But if a mistake or fatigue arises during the game, who will I bring in from the bench? That’s why for now, I am mainly operating with one central forward.
Nevertheless, it cannot be said that this will remain the case. I think at least twice before making a decision. Because I know that both Dovbik and Shomurodov will give their all on the field. I will try to ease the pressure on Dovbik by bringing Eldor off the bench.
He always deserves to play in the starting lineup. Even when coming off the bench, he performs his duties with dedication. If the players on the bench strive to come on the field to help the team – that is a great achievement for the coach, – said Ranieri.
It is worth noting that Eldor Shomurodov has appeared in a total of 30 matches for "Roma" this season across Serie A, the Coppa Italia, and the Europa League. So far, he has scored 6 goals and provided 3 assists, proving once again that he is worthy of the coaches' trust.
