Fonseca: Football will return, as exciting as ever

On Wednesday morning, Portuguese newspaper A Bola published a special letter from Roma coach Paulo Fonseca.

Writing in the first person, the Giallorossi boss reflected on everything he has gone through over the past few months, the way his life has changed and will change - and his fears and hopes for how football will come through the current Covid-19 pandemic.

Here is what the Portuguese had to say...

“Almost 60 days in isolation. It’s impossible to imagine being separated like this from the world, especially from my world.

“I should admit, being selfish, that this separation has at least allowed me to enjoy a few moments of happiness – moments that my profession, usually, does not allow me to have.

“In some ways the weeks have been kind on me, allowing me to enjoy some quiet moments spent at home, with my wife and my son.

“But the weeks have also given me a deep sense of missing the rest of my family – I desperately want to be able to hug my two other sons, who are in Portugual, once again, along with my parents and the rest of my family.

“And then, of course, time has allowed me to think and reflect on things in a different way – even if it has also created some doubts and uncertainty.

“I am not one of those who strongly believes that the world will be changed forever, but I am convinced that we have lost things, at many levels, that will never be recovered.

“But let’s talk about my world, the world of football. Even here we are realising the immense changes that are coming and will come.

“Throughout this period I have tried to fend off pessimism or fear; I believe that my world will become stronger and more united than ever. Before our return we have to make decisions quickly and decisively, even if taking them now is almost like trying to referee a match without a whistle or any cards.

“But I will be back soon, back to my world. Finally. But, given all that is happened, I already know I will return to something completely different.

“Tight and necessary safety protocols are changing our daily routines: individual training, changing facilities at home or in solitary rooms, no close contact and everything else too.

“And then, when we do return to playing matches, we will need to respect a number of other measures. All of them in order to be able to live safely and responsibly. They are vital measures, all of which have my full support.

“Nevertheless, it is difficult for me to imagine… to imagine playing without the passion of the fans behind us – and especially playing without THAT HUG.

“Yes, THAT HUG – which we use to celebrate the best moment in football – the goal. The moment when the goalscorer disappears in a flood of arms, the moment when he runs in the direction of those who support him to thank them and to dedicate the strike to them.

“How will I celebrate? So I can’t hug my assistants, as I would normally do? But how many exciting moments in my career have been marked by that magic moment? In how many moments like that has THAT HUG helped change my future?

“In my first year at Shakhtar Donetsk, in a game where we came back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the final moments, all the players ran to me and hugged me to celebrate the final goal. I will never forget that.

At Braga, there was Marcelo’s goal that brought us the Portuguese Cup. I will never forget that.

Or at Pacos de Ferreira, where Manuel Jose scored the goal that got us into the Champions League play-offs.

“Or even now, here at Roma, with the goal Edin Dzeko scored in the last minute against Bologna. There are already so many goals that have ended with THE HUG – I will never forget.

“What will it be like, without THE HUG at the start or end of games with the opposition manager? Here in Italy there are so many people I want to embrace, for so many different reasons.

And how will I offer support to my players, in the tough moments, without THE HUG? And how can we possibly win titles or trophies without THE HUG? And what will it be like to look up to the stands, without being able to feel THAT HUG from the fans?

“But I have to admit, the hardest thing for me to imagine is the dressing room without THE HUG. Perhaps that is hard to understand, for anyone who has never shared that secred space. But just imagine the energy that comes with THE HUG. Especially before a game.

"That simple gesture transmits something that words could never manage to do. Those are vital, important moments to me. And most players understand that too.

“These days I have a player that understands and embodies that moment like no other – Federico Fazio. What. A. HUG. What passion! What energy! Incredible. Football, I am sure of it, will not be the same without THAT HUG.

“Right now there are so many hugs that are much more important than the hugs in football – of course I know that. And I know that those hugs, which have so much more importance and significance in our lives, will return soon too.

And then, among all the other hugs, will return THAT HUG. And then football will continue to be the most amazing and exciting spectacle in the country – just as it always was.”