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Football | Italy

Zdenek Zeman © Gallo Images

Zeman facing sack from Roma



Zdenek Zeman's future as coach of AS Roma was placed in doubt on Monday, two days after the Giallorossi dropped one place to seventh following a 3-3 draw with Bologna.

With 47 goals from 22 games Roma currently lead Juventus for the best attack in Italy's Serie A.

However Roma have conceded 38 goals, to the 15 conceded by leaders Juventus, prompting the club's sporting director Walter Sabatini to question the Czech veteran's methods.

Roma have also failed to win in their last four games.

"Zeman's work is satisfactory in some respects, but it's clear there are some less positive aspects as well," Sabatini.

"It's time to ask ourselves whether we need to make a change."

Zeman is a legendary figure in football, having coached a number of top teams including Lazio, Fenerbahce, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.

However he is perhaps best known for leading a little-known Foggia team to Serie A, where they regularly punched above their weight playing an attack-minded 4-3-3 formation which Zeman still favours.

Zeman led Pescara to Serie A promotion last season, and in June 2012 he joined Roma – 13 years after his first spell at the club – on a two-year contract.

Sabatini congratulated the 65-year-old Czech for helping "discover and develop emerging players", but he gave a strong hint that his time could soon be up.

"I don't regret him coming here because he has helped to discover and develop younger players but we have to build on other aspects as well," added Sabatini.

"The current situation is not satisfactory and we need to stop and reflect on whether we missed something as regards the composition of the coaching team."

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