Ex-Dortmunder
From Rome’s idiot to derby fighter: Mats Hummel’s rising form
After an initial false start, Mats Hummels is currently thriving at AS Roma. His coach played a big part in it. It also brings out a new side of the 36-year-old.
When the city duel between AS Roma and Lazio Rome has long since been decided in favor of the home team, the derby fire is lit again. The arsonist’s name is Mats Hummels. It’s the third minute of stoppage time and the home team Roma leads comfortably 2-0. The 36-year-old goes into a duel against Lazio’s Castellanos on the sidelines – energetic, but not unsportsmanlike. Then it becomes confusing.
After the tackle, Hummels jumps up, visibly angry, and presses his opponent’s forearm against his chest. Shortly afterwards he falls to the ground and covers his face with his hands. The Lazio attacker apparently hit him in the head. The scene escalates and a pack forms. And Castellanos is sent off with a red card.
While the crowd is still in full swing, Hummels gets up to further inflame the situation. This time with gestures towards the audience. “So you rarely see Mats Hummels freaking out like he is right now,” says Dazn commentator Uli Hebel about the scene. In fact, the veteran is now showing a new side in Rome. Both playfully and mentally. Just a few weeks ago no one would have expected this.
Change of coach initiates Hummels’ turnaround
At first things didn’t go well for Hummels after his move from Borussia Dortmund to AS Roma. Also because the then coach Ivan Jurić consistently put the defender on the bench. Under the Croatian, Hummels played just over 20 minutes. To make matters worse, he also scored an own goal shortly after coming on as a substitute. The game in Florence was lost 1:5. A debacle.
Things didn’t just go badly for Hummels, his club also fell short of expectations. The consequence: Coach Jurić, who only took over from Daniele de Rossi in mid-September, was fired again in November – after just twelve games. Shortly afterwards, Roma announced that Roman-born Claudio Ranieri was returning to his hometown as coach after a five-year break. The return campaign was supposed to herald a turning point for Hummels.
Ranieri was more open towards the 36-year-old from the start. “Why shouldn’t this boy play? We’ll see. Of course he’s of a certain age and so on, but we’ll see,” said the coach after his official introduction. “I’ll take the one who lets me win.”
The Rome coach is now raving about the ex-Dortmund player
From then on, Hummels was substituted on more often and was even allowed to play from the start. On his starting eleven debut for Roma in the Europa League game against Tottenham Hotspur, he caused a penalty, but later scored the last-minute equalizer. He had not yet reached top form, but was a “key figure in the defense,” said coach Ranieri after the game. “I believe that he can be not only good in defense, but exceptionally good,” said the 73-year-old Italian at the time. He should be right about that.
Ranieri continued to rely on Hummels despite some mistakes. He is now paying his coach back with an increasing form curve. In the 163rd city duel against Lazio, he was again in the starting line-up and shone with his strength in duels and overview.
Ranieri now speaks highly of him. Hummels showed assertiveness and professionalism even in challenging times, the coach enthused in a recent interview with the Italian newspaper “Gazzetta dello Sport”. He couldn’t resist taking a swipe at his predecessor. Hummels “gave 100 percent, even if the coach (Ranieri’s predecessor Ivan Jurić) didn’t see it,” said the 73-year-old.
Hummels set now?
Hummels himself is also satisfied with his development at Roma. “I’m getting back into the rhythm of the game, training regularly and I’m back in shape. Overall, I’m happy,” he told the Italian daily newspaper Il Messaggero. Coach Ranieri played a big part in this: “He left no doubt that I would play an important role for him. He told me straight away that he would let me play and that I had his trust,” said Hummels.
As the scene against Lazio shows, Ranieri has ignited the Italian fire in the ex-Dortmunder, who should be set for the time being. The coach can really use Hummels’ experience for the upcoming games after the winter break. After all, despite the derby win against their city rivals, AS Roma are currently only in 10th place in Serie A. If Hummels maintains his form, he could permanently become a key figure in Roma’s defense center. He has finally given the Italians a taste of what he is capable of.
Sources: “”, DPA news agency
Source: Stern

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