Daniele De Rossi spoke about Roma’s pre-season preparations following a friendly match against Toulouse. In his candid discussion, De Rossi covered a range of topics, including the transfer market, Paulo Dybala, and the team’s overall condition. Here are the key points from his press conference (via Corriere dello Sport).
De Rossi’s First Pre-Season as Manager
Reflecting on his first pre-season as a manager, De Rossi noted, “There’s nothing different from the preparations I did as a player; the sensations are the same. We work hard, intensely, without fear of arriving at the match with heavy legs because the goal is different. We’ve been working for several weeks, and everything feels normal. The affinity with my staff is great. I’ve asked a player how he felt at the 71st minute, and he told me he felt dead like at the beginning.”
Dybala as a False Nine
De Rossi discussed his tactical decision to use Paulo Dybala as a false nine. “My choice was influenced by the fact that Dybala was out for five days, and Tammy [Abraham] was out for a few days with a minor issue, so I alternated them. It’s a solution, and we plan to bring in wingers who can interact with him even when he drops deep. It’s a role he can play, but the team must move accordingly. If we expect him to be a target man, we’re wrong. If we move thinking of having an extra winger or an extra attacking midfielder, it’s interesting and worth trying again because it gives us much more coverage on the flanks when we use explosive players.”
Roma’s Current Condition
De Rossi shared his observations on the team’s current state. “I see the drive in training. In the first 15 minutes, I saw some well-recovered balls; the guys are tired. Two days ago, we pushed them hard. In my time, we used to run on the morning of the match. These games are necessary and should be taken seriously, but the result matters little. If you win, it calms the environment; if you lose, it creates some apprehension, but we’re working well. If I had seen them at full throttle for 90 minutes today, I would have been worried because we would arrive exhausted by October.”
Abraham, Bove, and the Transfer Market
Discussing key players and the transfer market, De Rossi said, “Tammy is a strong player in our squad, but the market tells you that even those you thought would stay might leave, and those you thought were leaving might stay and have incredible seasons. He’s important for us and could attract a lot of interest. He’s recovered well after a significant injury. I know what I’ve seen isn’t the real Tammy, and we count on him. The same goes for Edoardo [Bove]. I talk to the director, and we see the opportunities the market presents and the players’ requests. Sometimes players need more space and are eager, which I understand and must accept. For the rest, we’ll see. Sometimes, to talk about arrivals, we must consider departures, see who comes in and who leaves. It’s a broad discussion, a puzzle. You don’t just go and pick a player; sometimes you see a player and think you want him. Other times, you take advantage of market opportunities.”
Future Prospects
De Rossi emphasized patience and long-term planning. “It’s too early to make an assessment; we’ll do it on September 1. Last year, on September 1, I expected Bologna to be below us. Some teams surprise, some underperform, like Napoli. We need to see our path, mine. We scored 34 points in 18 games, a decent average but one that needs improvement. We’re working to bring quality to this team and ensure improving this average isn’t too difficult. An assessment now would be unfair. We need to fill some positions, and strong players will come. The sooner, the better, but the market is like that. Other teams might not have moved yet but needed to change two or three players. Next year, we’ll need to change much less. It’s a three-year plan, and you can’t want everything immediately. Sometimes even I wish for 10 players at once, but we need patience. The team will be strong in September, as it was last year, and we’ll follow the planned project with rejuvenation.”
A Special Phone Call
When asked about a specific player, De Rossi remained discreet. “Regarding Mikautadze, I shouldn’t talk about players from other teams, and it’s not right to delve into that call. I received a positive response, but I shouldn’t discuss the content of that call.”
