Mats Hummels, the German defender, has opened up about his tumultuous first season with Roma in an interview with Il Messaggero. The veteran center-back discussed his relationship with current manager Claudio Ranieri, his struggles under former coach Ivan Juric, and his thoughts on the upcoming Rome derby against Lazio.
On his current physical condition ahead of the derby, Hummels stated, “If I hadn’t been sick a couple of times, we’d be talking about 100 percent. But a couple of bouts of flu have weakened me a bit. However, I’m regaining my match rhythm, training regularly, and getting back in shape. Overall, I’m happy.”
Hummels praised Ranieri’s approach, saying, “He came to me, took me aside on the first day and started talking, saying he knew me, that he had always followed me for the last ten years, that he liked my way of playing and that he had seen both the semi-final and the final of the last Champions League. He had no doubts that I would have an important role with him.”
Regarding his lack of playing time under former coach Juric, Hummels expressed confusion: “I don’t know the reason. If I see him again one day, I’ll ask him why, because, I repeat, he was always kind and nice to me. The problem is that when he made the lineup, I was never there. I can’t say more about this, I really don’t know.”
On his future at Roma, Hummels remained uncertain: “No, I haven’t decided yet. I’ll decide in the summer. But if I were to stay, I’d be very happy to be coached by him [Ranieri] again.”
Hummels also shared his thoughts on living in Rome: “I love it. I adore its culture, its people. The weather isn’t so bad either… I like its vibes, it’s full of nice, respectful people, well-dressed too. Areas I frequent the most? Trastevere, the top.”
Looking ahead to the derby against Lazio, Hummels expressed confidence: “We know they are strong. Who worries me in particular? I couldn’t emphasize the individual because it’s a team based on the collective, they have many players who score goals and to be honest they deserve the advantage they have. On Sunday, however, we want to win to start reducing the gap. I’m convinced that if we succeed, we can still finish above them.”
As for his future after playing, Hummels remains open-minded: “Maybe I’ll become a coach, I don’t know, I’d like to have a team and develop an idea of play, but I’ve been living this life for many years and I assure you it’s quite stressful. When I stop, I’ll have to rest for a while, unplug and recover. Then I’ll think about it.”
