Roma Review of 2016 Part 12: Dzeko’s rebirth

Roma’s comprehensive review of 2016 continues with a second look at the club’s revitalised goalscorring hero Edin Dzeko...

John Solano, Roma fan: “With the reception he got at the airport and the history he brought, obviously anybody would have been disappointed with his form up until January of this year. He missed a lot of opportunities. Any time a player, regardless of their age or history, comes to a new country and a new league, it’s going to take a number of months or maybe an entire season to get acclimated to the country: the culture, the football, the language, everything. I think he was the victim of that.”

Wayne Girard, Roma fan: “I thought [Edin] Dzeko was honestly a bum. I thought he was a bust.”

Alessandro Spartà, Roma TV: “When I was commentating on the matches, I was always puzzled by Dzeko’s form in his first season. As soon as Luciano Spalletti returned, I immediately had a feeling that Edin could do better. Spalletti is a great manager who is able to get the best out of the individual players. Let’s not forget that Spalletti managed to get [Rodrigo] Taddei playing as a centre-forward.”

John Solano: “In January ,when fans were being pretty hard on him, I was trying my best to stay positive. I wanted to keep him, even in the summer when people were saying, ‘We should get rid of him. We should look to move on from him.’ However, I wanted to keep him because if you look at him based on his history, from season one to season two, the difference is like day and night.”

Luciano Spalletti, Roma coach: "I've tried to inspire him. This is my job. There were no doubts from where I was standing - Dzeko is a top footballer. I don't understand why so many people have tried to criticise him in the past.”

Alessandro Spartà: “While we were in Pinzolo, I saw the boss spend time with Dzeko, making him practice shooting with his left foot from the penalty spot. It was something that really impressed me. It’s not every day that you see a coach get a great striker to practice a simple technical skill.”

Tommaso Guccione, Roma fan: "It was obvious last year that Edin wasn't feeling settled, but I always had faith in him because I had read that statistically the Bosnian has always done better on average in his second season at a club compared to his first.

“He joined the club at a mature age and he's a guy with his head on his shoulders. I think he's a leader in the changing room but above all, he's a fantastic worker, as shown last season when, even though he wasn't playing that often, he never complained and continued to put effort into training. This year Dzeko has shown himself to be decisive and sharp, a deadly striker in the box. But I've also seen how he's changed in terms of his contribution not only in goals but helping out the team.

“Aside from scoring loads, Edin is actually doing a great job of working hard and linking things up, which is what Spalletti has been asking of him right from the word go. I think his best and most important goals were the two against Napoli at the Stadio San Paolo, a couple of fantastic strikes. I'm convinced he'll continue to develop."

Wayne Girard: “I think you’re looking at a player who’s fighting. It’s a complete reversal. He could have gone two ways this year - he could have taken the low road and said, ‘Screw this, I’m going to China and I’m going to make quadruple what I’m earning here. I don’t give a damn. I had a shit season but I’m moving on. That’s it.’ But he stayed, and that’s a winner’s mentality. Further, he demonstrated it. He didn’t just say, ‘I’m going to stay and try my best.’ He actually did it. It’s the action over the words that really matters here when you’re a fan because the results are what matters.

“In the game against Milan, he didn’t get the winning goal, but he was one of the most, if not the most influential player on the pitch aside from Radja. Fighting for every ball and running back and doing the little layoffs. It was fundamental and it’s how Spalletti teams play and how his teams have played throughout his career. It’s so good to see. He still has his critics out there, but he’s been great so far. It seems like he’s back and that mentality has allowed him to overcome his initial struggle.”

Alessandro Spartà: “I’ve enjoyed watching Dzeko right from his first match in the Giallorossi colours, when he scored against Sevilla in a friendly in August 2015. His strike against Viktoria Plzen at the Stadio Olimpico in 2016 was spectacular – the way he cut back onto his left side. It was the kind of goal only great strikers score. People often think of Dzeko as merely a fox in the box, but he has the technical attributes needed to score stunning goals too.”

Luciano Spalletti: “This year he has shown himself to more determined in training and in matches. I believe he and [Gonzalo] Higuain will battle it out for top scorer this season."

John Solano: “A full pre-season and a full summer in Italy under Spalletti absolutely helped him and we’re seeing what he’s doing now. He is arguably the strongest striker in Italy right now and it was absolutely the right move to keep him at the club. I’m glad that everyone from Sabatini to Pallotta decided to keep him, because it’s paying dividends now.”