Roma’s head coach, Daniele De Rossi, expressed his conviction that the team is progressing positively towards fostering a familial atmosphere and dismissed criticisms directed at himself and his players.
Since De Rossi assumed the coaching role in January, succeeding Jose Mourinho after his tenure of two-and-a-half years, the Giallorossi have experienced a revitalization. The team has secured victories in five out of six league matches under De Rossi’s leadership, positioning themselves favorably in the pursuit of European qualification. Presently, Roma occupies the sixth position in the league standings, trailing fourth-placed Bologna by a mere four points. Additionally, in the Europa League, Roma is slated to confront Brighton in the Round of 16.
During a press conference conducted via TMW, De Rossi addressed the well-being of his Roma squad.
“Everyone is fine except Rick Karsdorp with a knee problem. Nothing serious, but he needs a break.”
He addressed the strategies he intends to implement in managing the health status of the prominent forward, Paulo Dybala.
“Management is easy when you have many good players. When someone is tired, you change them without lowering the quality. Dybala is fine. I don’t know how many times he played 110 minutes and then 90 immediately afterwards.
“We must be happy. He’s happy, his condition is good, when you score a hat-trick even some issues feel good.”
De Rossi gave his thoughts on Monza coach Raffaele Palladino.
“Something has changed in the last few games and we have some doubts. We have to prepare for more than one type of game, but we are ready for everything.
“I respect Palladino a lot, we spoke a few days ago, we started the coaching course together. I’m happy for him, he is an excellent coach and is managing the occasion at Monza brilliantly. The future is on his side.”
De Rossi was queried regarding whether Roma exhibited characteristics indicative of a cohesive familial unit in the contemporary context.
“I don’t know what it was like yesterday. I don’t try to do something different from the past. I try to manage as I did at SPAL, which was no different when I was captain. There are different roles and choices.
“When you are captain you are friends with everyone, as a coach you are friends but then you send 12 to the bench. If we are not yet a family, we are in the right direction to become one.
“If we feel good we go to Trigoria to do something more. The players must be happy to go to the pitch to do a mentally and physically perfect job.”
The speaker addressed the appropriateness of Dybala within the framework of a 3-5-2 tactical formation.
He successfully converted a penalty, scored from a distance of thirty meters, and capitalized on a run to score additional goals. The efficacy of a three-man defensive setup or any tactical advantage derived from his performance is not evident. Upon closer examination of the goals, they represent scenarios that could equally occur within a 5-5-0 formation.
De Rossi deflected criticism of Romelu Lukaku.
“Everyone is questioned, even Dybala. Me too. Sometimes choices have to be made. Choices arise from performance or condition. His condition is like a star, he always runs and fights.
“This makes everyone happy, he is a footballer that everyone would like. I don’t see long faces, it’s their job. From this point of view, Romelu is the perfect player.”
The individual was queried regarding their perception of whether the Roma environment was inducing destabilization.
“I don’t perceive destabilisation around us. The owners provides us with the serenity we are enjoying. We are an accommodating wing compared to what happens above and below us. I am not insensitive to what can happen, but the company is at my disposal 24 hours a day.
“Same with Dan and Ryan (Friedkin, ed.), I can’t complain about anything. I know there are a lot of changes because some roles are uncovered, but I focus on results.
“Other than that it’s not my field and I have no say in the matter. To me the atmosphere seems positive, nothing different is happening that doesn’t happen in other clubs.”
De Rossi provided an update on Chris Smalling.
“The running-in phase is coming to an end and maybe it’s just my exaggerated concern. Maybe if he had played with four he would have done even better. The physical stress of the game is different.
“My idea was to put two guard dogs on his sides to limit his range of action. But if we send him on the pitch it’s because he’s feeling good. He played in the three-man defence to make him more comfortable. In the future he will be very important for us regardless of the lineup.”
Furthermore, he expressed favorable sentiments regarding Leandro Paredes.
“He’s improving in what I ask of him, in ball possession I’m asking him to do something different, he’s very intelligent. Even without the ball he is.
“The energetic midfielder who slides in is certainly nice, as is the feisty one, but stalling is essential. I’m not asking him for different things, they’re just nuances that I allow myself to give the midfielders some more lessons.”
In conclusion, De Rossi deliberated on his strategy for mitigating the hazards posed by Monza.
“They put everyone in difficulty, Roma in the first meeting, now Milan. They know how to play football, but they are less aggressive than Atalanta and Torino. As far as crosses are concerned, marking in the area and man management are important.
“On Zapata, the cross could have been avoided as the forward was well marked and he should be congratulated. Angelino needed a hand on Bellanova to prevent the cross from going off. We will work on it, then it is clear that we will always suffer from crosses as is normal in football.”