ROME // Manager Rudi Garcia will be fighting to save his job on Sunday when Roma, knocked out of the Italian Cup by second tier Spezia in midweek, entertain lowly Genoa in Serie A.
Out-of-form Roma have gone seven games without a win in all competitions, their last victory coming against Lazio in Serie A on November 8.
That sequence of results included a 6-1 rout at Barcelona’s hands in the Uefa Champions League and the attacking dynamism that characterised their early season performances has evaporated, with Garcia’s men scoring just once in the past five matches.
Roma were dumped out on Wednesday after being held 0-0 by Spezia and then losing 4-2 on penalties, Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko missing their spot kicks.
“I’ve never been so angry,” club president James Pallotta told Gazzetta dello Sport. “We should all be embarrassed. I’m disgusted. I apologise to the fans.”
Garcia is refusing to give up and said he expected a lot more from the Roma squad.
“I’m not leaving,” said the Frenchman. “Now we need to stand up in the storm and summon the spirit of wolves.
“I know my players can do more. Now we just need to win, beginning against Genoa. We need character and pride.”
Walter Mazzarri, Luciano Spalletti and Fabio Capello have already been linked to the Roma job by media reports.
One media outlet said club directors had contacted Marcello Lippi, who led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006, following the defeat by Spezia.
“I’m anguished,” said director Walter Sabatini, “but we haven’t decided anything yet.”
Roma are fifth in Serie A after 16 matches while fourth-bottom Genoa, who were also victims of a cup giant-killing in midweek when they lost to third tier Alessandria, have won just one of their past nine games in all competitions.
Serie A kick-off times UAE
Saturday
Bologna V Empoli, 11.45pm
Sunday
Carpi V Juventus, 3.30pm
Atalanta V Napoli, 6pm
Fiorentina V Chievo, 6pm
Roma V Genoa, 6pm
Verona V Sassuolo, 6pm
Frosinone V Milan, 9pm
Sampdoria V Palermo, 9pm
Torino V Udinese, 9pm
Inter Milan V Lazio, 11.45pm
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