Baldini hints Roma will give Luis Enrique 'another year'

Baldini hints Roma will give Luis Enrique 'at least another year'

Apr 28, 2012 10:55:00 PM

The Giallorossi director has dropped his biggest indication yet that the Spaniard will be retained by the club after admitting he was encouraged by the performance against Napoli

Roma general manager Franco Baldini has suggested that the club are prepared to give embattled coach Luis Enrique another year to prove himself, after claiming he has only added value to the side.

The Lupi have experienced a mixed season, which has been the first under the ownership of Italo-American businessman Thomas DiBenedetto and the stewardship of the former Barcelona and Spain midfielder, but the one-time England assistant has vowed to stand by his man.

"We need to improve in many aspects, both as a club and as a team, and I think that Luis Enrique has great qualities and should have at least another year to showcase them and build something," Baldini said after Saturday's 2-2 draw with Napoli.

"We firmly believe in him and he too believes in the project, despite the difficulties we are all facing. At the end of the season we will take stock of the situation.

"Everyone speaks well of him and his idea of the game, not just us and the players, but also their opponents."

Reflecting on the point gained against the Partenopei at the Olimpico, courtesy of Fabio Simplicio's late strike to cancel out Edinson Cavani and Juan Zuniga's respective efforts, Baldini commented that Luis Enrique's footballing philosophy was an important factor in the team rescuing a draw.

"Luis Enrique is our coach and the problem does not lie with him. He showed his value as the team played out a great first half.

"The atmosphere at the stadium certainly puts pressure on the team, who have suffered a bit from this and have had to overcome the fear of exposing themselves to Napoli, who are a great team.

"However, we then responded by finding the equaliser. The team has little serenity, but despite this, the performance showed that the coach has an idea of the game that must be supported by the club over time."

Seventh-placed Roma remain four points behind Napoli, who currently sit in the last remaining Champions League qualifying spot in third.

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