Lorenzo Pellegrini elucidates the transformative impact of Daniele De Rossi on his performance for Roma in contrast to Jose Mourinho’s tenure, noting, “That is what I have been lacking in the last year and a half.”
Following their 1-0 Europa League defeat to Brighton, which nonetheless secured their advancement to the quarter-finals against Milan, the Giallorossi exhibited some signs of fatigue. Despite Paulo Dybala’s absence and Romelu Lukaku’s struggle with hip inflammation, captain Pellegrini once again proved instrumental by netting the decisive goal with a right-foot curler from outside the box in the victory against Sassuolo.
Though Roma endured a scare as Diego Llorente nearly conceded an own goal, their fifth-place standing remains intact, with a mere three-point deficit separating them from fourth-placed Bologna.
In a post-match interview with DAZN, Pellegrini stressed the imperative nature of securing victories, emphasizing, “It is only right for a team that wants to improve and ascend the table to fight to the end.” He contrasted the significance of the Sassuolo win with the importance of avoiding defeat in the previous fixture against Fiorentina.
Pellegrini’s symbolic embrace of coach De Rossi after his goal underscores his revitalization as a player, notably in comparison to his struggles under Mourinho’s management. Under De Rossi’s guidance, the midfielder has amassed six goals and three assists in a mere 13 appearances.
Reflecting on his relationship with De Rossi, Pellegrini remarked, “Daniele has always been a reference point for me, even when we were teammates. I was fortunate enough to experience him as a teammate and as a coach, so I hope he’s enjoying the experience of coaching me.” He emphasized the necessity of midfield freedom and spatial awareness, qualities he believes were lacking in his recent performances.
Looking ahead to the Europa League quarter-final against Milan, Pellegrini acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by their Italian counterparts, while maintaining confidence in Roma’s capabilities. He affirmed, “We know that at this level, just like last season, all the teams in the draw are strong. Either way, it was going to be tough, we will prepare and try everything to reach the next phase. Milan are a strong side, but we should believe in ourselves too.”