Zeman on the verge of losing Roma job

MILAN - Agence France-Presse

Zdenek Zeman is famous for his courageous attacking football style.

Zdenek Zeman’s future as coach of AS Roma was placed in doubt yesterday, two days after the Giallorossi dropped one place to seventh following a 3-3 draw with Bologna.

With 47 goals from 22 games Roma currently leads Juventus for the best attack in Italy’s Serie A.
However, Roma has conceded 38 goals, to the 15 conceded by leader Juventus, prompting the club’s sporting director Walter Sabatini to question the Czech veteran’s methods.

“Zeman’s work is satisfactory in some respects, but it’s clear there are some less positive aspects as well,” Sabatini. “It’s time to ask ourselves whether we need to make a change.” 

Zeman is a legendary figure in football, having coached a number of top teams including Lazio, Fenerbahçe, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade. But he is perhaps best known for leading a little-known Foggia team to Serie A, where the team regularly punched above its weight playing an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation which Zeman still favors.

Sabatini congratulated the 65-year-old Czech for helping “discover and develop emerging players,” but he gave a strong hint that his time could soon be up.

“I don’t regret him coming here because he has helped to discover and develop younger players but we have to build on other aspects as well,” he added.