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Evolution of the false 9: from Francesco Totti to Diego Perotti
Today , the former Zenit gaffer has switched the team to a sort of 4-3-3 system and Diego Perotti has replaced the AS Roma’s legend in the false 9 position.
The impact of the Argentinean winger has been devastating so far. He’s perfectly in sync with his strike partners Mohammed Salah and Stephan El Shaarawy and despite Spalletti’s words to defend Edin Dzeko, it is quite clear that the team gives its best when playing without a classic centre-forward.
The Bosnia and Herzegovina International, however, has also improved a lot since Spalletti was appointed as the Giallorossi boss.
Spalletti prefers Perotti’s pace over Dzeko’s power. Even if Gasperini had already tried Perotti in that position during his spell at the Marassi, watching him playing on a regular basis in the heart of the Capitolines’ attack was totally unpredictable when the player completed his Roma switch this past January.
Perotti can be Roma’s main striker as well as the team’s offensive playmaker at the same time. He has quality, but he is also an offensive runner who doesn’t give opponents defenders any piece. He presses very high up the pitch and doesn’t allow them building the action from behind.
Now, Spalletti hopes the muscle injury he picked up in the second half against Fiorentina is nothing serious because with Perotti on the pitch, AS Roma can aim for the sky.
Francesca Schito, translated by Lorenzo Bettoni @lorebetto
