Roma manager Daniele De Rossi spoke to DAZN following his team’s 0-0 draw against Cagliari in their Serie A opener. The former Roma midfielder provided insights into the match and addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding Paulo Dybala’s future.
De Rossi began by analysing the team’s performance: “We did better in the second half. We had some difficulty restarting play in the first half. I told the players to avoid playing too much on the ground. The pitch was very dry, the ball wasn’t moving, so I asked them to go more vertical because I didn’t want to encourage Cagliari’s aggressiveness.”
The coach praised young winger Matias Soulé’s impact: “He needs to do that, look for one-on-ones. That’s what we ask of him, along with the obvious defensive work. He’s a very young boy who always seems lively and involved in the game. We were looking for a player like that, who could provide both quality and speed.”
When asked about the possibility of Dybala leaving, De Rossi expressed concern: “Would I be scared of a Roma without Dybala? I’ve already spoken enough about this story and said I wouldn’t revisit it. On September 2nd, we’ll talk about the market and who’s here. What would scare me is a Roma without Paulo and without other replacements that could arrive, if Paulo or someone else should leave.”
He added: “The squad is numerically fine as it is. If someone were to leave and we didn’t bring anyone in, that could scare me. But if someone were to leave and we replaced them, even in other positions, with functional and strong players, we move forward and work with those who arrive.”
Regarding new signing Artem Dovbyk, De Rossi commented: “In the first half, it wasn’t an easy game for him because we kicked a lot and not where we wanted to. In the second half, I think he did very well, he held onto many balls and almost scored. I have the feeling he will score many goals.”
