Roma coach Daniele De Rossi believes he won’t have any problems getting Matias Soule and Paulo Dybala to work together on the pitch. The Giallorossi have revamped their attack this summer, adding Soule and Artem Dovbyk, while Romelu Lukaku has left the club after his loan spell, and Tammy Abraham Abraham looks set to join AC Milan. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, De Rossi previewed the season ahead and explained why he’s not worried about how his attack will fit together:
How do you assess this first training camp?
“I am happy with how we worked, both in England and at Trigoria, always with great intensity. The new arrivals will help complete the team, which was already strong and had a good season, as far as I could evaluate in the second half of the season. The squad needed to be bolstered, and we need players of the same quality as the starters. And that is happening.”
Do you expect more signings soon?
“We’ll see. What is certain is that today there are too many players; at St. George’s Park, I had 31. There are players who will leave and go elsewhere, situations to evaluate, as with other Serie A teams. With 31 players, you can’t work well. We’ll see if someone leaves and then refocus on who should come in.”
Against Everton, Dovbyk played from the start for the first time. Did you like him?
“Yes, he did well. He gives us depth, which is what we need and what I always ask for because if there’s no one stretching the opposing team, the possession and build-up play we do become a readable reference point. We have to be ready to always play, but also to go deep and surprise the opponent.”
Dybala played only 15 minutes and is at the centre of many rumours…
“I don’t make the lineup based on rumors; I leave those to others. Nothing has influenced my choices. Against Everton, I put the team I wanted to see on the field: we are getting closer to the championship, and we have to be more and more similar to what we should be. I experimented, as in other matches. Those who were in England are all Roma players, then we’ll see what happens. Not just for Dybala, but for everyone. When asked if there was anyone to keep tied here hand and foot, I replied no, there wasn’t. Anyone who wants to leave is free to do so.”
How can Dybala and Soulé play together?
“They can do it in the 4-2-3-1, with Paulo as a false nine, but also with the two attacking midfielders in the 4-3-2-1. They can play together in a thousand ways, like the others. And they can all be on the bench. The important thing is that when they come on, they do it well and help, adding value to the team.”
The midfielders always play very high, attacking with five and often even six.
“In reality, we’ve been attacking like this for six months. We are trying to understand the balances now that there are different players. Last year, for example, the midfielder was often Cristante, a more positional player and less good at receiving the ball between the lines than Le Fee. Every player has their characteristics, they may give you something more on one side and take away on the other. We have to be good at organizing the team in both phases, but also according to the characteristics of the individual player who goes on the field. The fact that we have Angelino, who is so intelligent and knows how to play as a full-back, midfielder, and mezzala, also allows us to attack with six offensive channels.”
Among the experiments is Baldanzi as a mezzala. Do you really believe in him?
“Yes, blindly. Tommaso is a player I like a lot, he has quality, rhythm, and intensity. When he plays on the wing, sometimes he lacks a bit of drive to attack as I like. Instead, there in the middle, he is unpredictable, active, always dangerous. I think he is growing a lot and will soon become decisive in the last 16 meters, which is perhaps the last thing he lacks to become a very strong player. Midfielder, winger, attacking midfielder: he is too intelligent, has quality, always lively and vibrant. I like him a lot.”
To conclude, is it fair to say that Roma still lacks 2-3 pieces?
“We’ll see. The players are there, we’ll see the opportunities the market presents us. If someone leaves or wants to leave and if we decide it will be better to bring someone else in, we will do so, as has happened so far. But saying that someone is missing is not respectful to those who are here. It’s obvious that someone already knows they will leave or go on loan. There are situations we’ve been carrying for years, people will go play elsewhere because they deserve the space I can’t give them. We’ll see what happens in these two weeks. But if someone leaves, we will bring in strong players, I’m sure.”
