++ [ originally posted by paulo ] ++
Btw they have already classified themselves "with the teams who are reigning champs," or in other words Juve.
How did they do that? They have not beaten Juve (reigning Italian Champs) Milan (reigning CL champs and Coppa Italia champs) or Inter. Three big encounters before the half and they have come up short. Why should they be classified on that level? Because they beat the small teams while teams like Milan and Juve were busy qualifying for the CL league to which Roma because of their disaster in the league last season failed to qualify for?
The half way mark has not even come yet. Rome has simply illustrated that
a) they have a much improved team than last season.
b) the players seem to do well as a unit.
c) having a fairly young team they are in a better position than Milan and Juve in terms of injury prone players and reliability.
How have they classified themselves with Juve and Milan?
Big teams like Juve and Milan have come up BIG when they needed it most: vs. Barcelona..vs. Ajax.
Big teams like Juve and Milan have other obligations in terms of champions league matches in addition TO Coppa Italia.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, players like Maldini, Del Piero, Nedved and Shevchenko have the class and maturity not to open their mouth TOO soon and later make themselves look ridiculous when the 'old guard' teach them a lesson in football.