Opinion: Garcia deserves nothing but thanks

His task was to take a team that had finished in sixth and seventh and turn it into a perennial Champions’ League entrant and fight for the Scudetto against Antonio Conte’s winning machine at Juventus and the then-newly launched Rafa Benitez revolution at Napoli.

And though towards the end change was inevitable and necessary, he completed what he set out to do, finishing second twice with Roma and leading them to their highet-ever points tally in his first season.

For that, Garcia deserves nothing but thanks.

For taking a team that was full of talent but looking upwards at the top three spots in the league, struggling to make the jump, and turning them into a side strong enough that a first place finish no longer felt like an “if” but a “when”.

For rejuvenating and relaunching the careers of numerous players in his own version of a 4-3-3, dependent upon the quick-releasing passes of Francesco Totti to send Gervinho and company racing down the sides and towards opponents’ goals.

But perhaps most so for taking everyone – truly, everyone – by surprise in his first season when Roma were so thoroughly brilliant, so often, and set numerous records along the way.

For that historic 10-game winning run to start the season, a feat no side in league history had ever accomplished.

For turning back time on Douglas Maicon; for solidifying Mehdi Benatia and Leandro Castan into the best centre-back duo in the league; for adding the grit and nous of Kevin Strootman to complete a harmonic trio with Daniele De Rossi and Miralem Pjanic; for believing in Gervinho and watching him reward the side time and time and time again; for aiding the development of Alessandro Florenzi into Roma’s ultimate utility player, scorer of great goals and hugger of nonnas.

And though the following season and beginning of this one were not quite as spectacular, that debut season was filled with so many great moments that it could easily take up several Blu Rays.

Which Romanisti doesn’t want to watch that ten game winning run again? Or Federico Balzaretti’s strike in the Derby against Lazio? Or Mehdi Benatia’s solo run and forceful finish against Sampdoria? How about Miralem Pjanic’s two deadball goals against Napoli? Or Florenzi’s superbly taken goal against Inter?

That season was remarkable, truly, and allowed Roma and Romanisti to dream again.

That season was Rudi Garcia at his best.

That season was AS Roma at its best.

For his hard work, dedication, revolution and historical impact, Rudi Garcia, we have nothing but warmth, affection, and respect for you.