View from the Opposition: Sampdoria

Roma return to action after the international break looking to build on a win and draw in their opening two games.

The Giallorossi face Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico this weekend, a team who have started their own campaign in impressive fashion.

We spoke to Rick van Put of @UC_Sampdoria to find out more about Sunday’s visitors.

Sampdoria finished 15th last season, just two points above the relegation zone, but have started the season with two wins from two. How do you see them getting on this season?

“It is hard to predict as they made many changes to the squad, including the signing of a new manager Marco Giampaolo – who has only managed relatively small clubs in the last decade. He has the hard task of making a team out of the group - but he proved last season he can forge a team as Empoli finished 10th in the Serie A.

“Last season Sampdoria also started off in Serie A just fine, but then ‘collapsed’ somewhere around November. But I expect them to do better and be more consistent this time around. So a mid-table position should be possible.”

What has the transfer window been like for Sampdoria?

“Crazy, very busy. Seventy-three players arrived (including those returning from loan spells) and 51 others left the club, which is an enormous turnover.

"But, looking at the players that left and those who replaced them, I am really confident the team has become stronger, certainly in defence and midfield. Signings Jacopo Sala and Karol Linetty have started very well.”

Sampdoria sold a number of key players over the summer, including Roberto Soriano. How have they coped?

"I think they have coped well, giving Giampaolo many options in every position. Roberto Soriano was key last season with eight goals and four assists, but I think Sampdoria countered his departure well.

"The only weird thing during the summer was the manager's reaction to the signing of Dennis Praet. He said Samp paid a lot of money for him and presumed he should be a great player. He had only seen video footage of him and couldn’t tell how hard he worked. So it seems perhaps not all transfers were discussed with the manager.”

Which players could make an impact against Roma?

“Striker Luis Muriel is the key player at the moment. He’s scoring goals and proves to be a constant threat. Both midfielders Edgar Barreto and Karol Linetty were important in the first matches and I expect them to be key in Rome as well.”

What sort of tactical set-up could we see from Sampdoria in this match?

“I don’t think Giampaolo will change anything at the moment, so he will start in a 4-3-1-2 lineup again with the same players he used against Atalanta.”

How do Sampdoria fans view Roma? And what have they made of the club's transfer window?

“Roma is a big club with a great history, so the respect is there. Roma completed some big deals, especially up front. Some of them were already playing for the club anyway (Stephan El Shaaraway, for example) but are valuable transfers as the club now owns them.

“Maybe their biggest ‘transfer’ is the return of midfielder Kevin Strootman after a long injury.”

If you could add one player from Roma to Sampdoria’s squad, who would it be?

“Kevin Strootman. A very good midfielder who has it all: a hard worker, good passer, can score a goal and a natural born leader.”

What’s your score prediction for the game?

“Roma score a lot of goals but concede plenty of them as well. I think Sampdoria have a chance here, so I’ll go for 1-1.”

Follow @UC_Sampdoria and @james_gooderson on Twitter.