Context:

Luis Enrique’s first major coaching role at Roma ended in a high-profile failure, despite ambitious plans and a refreshed squad built to emulate Barcelona’s tiki-taka. Early results were poor, negating a costly transfer spree and triggering a tense relationship with club legend Francesco Totti. The season stalled with unimpressive league form and early exits, setting the stage for his resignation after a campaign marked by unrest and backlash from supporters. The experience contrasted with the later success he found at Barcelona, the national team, and Paris Saint‑Germain, underscoring a volatile start that hampered Roma’s momentum.

Dive Deeper:

• Enrique joined Roma in 2011 with strong title ambitions after the club’s new American owner injected 90 million euros into the transfer kitty, bringing in players like Stekelenburg, Lamela, Pjanic, Bojan, Osvaldo and Borini to build a rebuilt side around Totti and De Rossi.

• He pursued Barcelona‑style tiki-taka, prioritizing high possession and aggressive counter‑pressing, while bringing in former Barça player Ivan de la Peña as assistant, a choice that aggravated Roma fans due to his Lazio connections.

• Initial pre-season results were disappointing, including a 3-0 loss to Valencia and a 0-1 European qualifier defeat to Slovan Bratislava, fueling early doubts about the fit and his methods.

• Totti’s role became a flashpoint: Enrique benched the club icon, provoking backlash and revealing a rift that dominated press conferences and fan sentiment, with Sabatini later noting the tension and consequences for the coach.

• The league campaign failed to take off—Roma failed to win the first three Serie A matches and finished seventh, despite posting high possession, suggesting the system did not translate into meaningful attacks or results.

• After mounting pressure and personal toll from the hostile environment, Enrique resigned with one matchday left, ending a tenure seen by supporters as an unfulfilled attempt to implement Barca‑style football in Rome.