Q&A: Strootman answers 29 fan questions

1. Given you don’t drink coffee, what do you have for breakfast every morning?

“Good question. No, you’re right, I don’t drink coffee and they make a great breakfast here in Trigoria, so I always eat at the training ground in the morning. I usually eat yoghurt with a bit of fruit or bread and ham, turkey or chicken. That along with an orange juice.”

2. Going back in time, had you not become a footballer, what job would you have liked to have done?

“That’s a tricky one because I always wanted to be a footballer right from when I was a young kid. It’s a dream come true and it’s lucky I’m a footballer now because I don’t know what else I could have done. That’s a tough question and not one I can answer.”

3. Who did you support when you were a kid?

“Ajax. I grew up in Rotterdam and lots of my friends supported Feyenoord because they're the main team in Rotterdam but I liked Ajax. Then when I played for Sparta, I wanted to beat Ajax when I played them because that’s a different situation. But when I went to Utrecht, who have a real rivalry with Ajax, it just disappeared overnight. That’s when I stopped supporting Ajax.”

4. Who were the stars of the Ajax team when you supported them as a kid?

“Ajax have always had good players. Jari Litmanen was good. I was only five when that team won the Champions League so I don’t remember much but they had Patrick Kluivert who was great. Zlatan Ibrahimovic played there too so they’ve always had good players.”

5. What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored?

“I think the goal against Napoli was my best. It was 20 or 25 yards out, I can’t remember, but it was a big stage of the season too in front of a packed house. That was a very important moment for me.”

6. What’s been the best moment you’ve experienced in Roma colours?

“The goal against Lazio in the derby because when you score such a big goal in a special fixture like that and you see the look in the fans’ eyes, it’s incredible. I’d love to do that every week but it really was a very special moment for me. It was also my first goal at home after my injury, so it really was a very special moment for me.”

7. When you scored that goal in the derby, you came running in and basically told Edin Dzeko to get out of the way. Did you shout something in particular to him or did you just make a lot of noise?

“They asked me that in another interview but I can’t really remember to be honest. Maybe I said something in Bosnian or Italian, I don’t know. He realised immediately and luckily he left the ball for me.”

8. Do you think the title race will be closer this season between the top sides?

“I think so and you can definitely see that at this moment in time. There are lots of great sides - Napoli, Inter, AC Milan, Lazio too, us and Juve. There are lots of good teams and Juve have won the title fairly comfortably over the last five years. I think it will be tough this season but we should probably have this conversation in a few months’ time because it’s still the start of the campaign and it’s hard to discuss things like that. Let’s chat about it again in January or February and I’ll tell you whether or not that’s the case.”

9. What do you expect from the game away at Qarabag in the Champions League?

“It will be a very difficult game. They lost 6-0 at Chelsea, who are obviously a brilliant side. They’ll want to win at home, no doubt. They’ll be at home and we’ll have taken a four- or five-hour flight. They’ve made it into the Champions League and are there on merit, so they’ll want to prove to the fans that they deserve to be at that level. They’ll want to win and it will be a very tough match.”

10. Who’s the biggest character out of Alessandro Florenzi, Radja Nainggolan, Bruno Peres and Kostas Manolas?

“He nailed it, they really are the main four on that score. That’s a tough one because all four of them talk a lot, occasionally too much but hey. If I had to say one, I’d go with Manolas. He’s a top bloke but occasionally he’s hard work in the dressing room for everyone - the physios etc. But he’s a lovely bloke so we have a laugh about that.”

11. How well do you get on with Nainggolan?

We get on well, off the pitch too. But to have someone like him in your side is special. I think he’s one of the best midfielders in the world because he can do it all - attack, defend and score goals. It’s very special to always be able to play alongside him. I think he could play for any team in Europe, so we’re delighted he stayed here. I’m really he pleased he signed a new contract.”

12. What language do you speak to one another?

“It depends but usually we speak Italian to one another because it’s hard to switch during a game if you need to say something quickly. It makes more sense to say it in Italian so the others can understand too. But if you need to say something to him when no one else can hear - just to clarify I’m not talking about bitching about people behind their backs - occasionally we speak Dutch. We speak Dutch to each other in the dressing room sometimes too but 80% of the time we speak Italian.”

13. Why do you think it’s such a tough time for Dutch football?

“That’s a tricky one. It’s a tough time for Dutch football and we no longer have the world-class players we did a few years ago when we made the World Cup final. It’s a tricky spell and we have to work hard and wait for the exciting young players that are coming through now. We’ve been quite unlucky too because injuries have meant we can never pick a consistent side. It will be tough to qualify for the World Cup but we have to keep going. We must work hard as a team and sooner or later we’ll qualify for a World Cup or European championships which is very important for our fans.”

14. Did you give Florenzi any advice during his recovery from injury?

“Yes, I spoke to him regularly and he asked me the odd thing in the gym but ultimately he did it all himself. All of the massage therapists, phyisos and medics helped Florenzi out but ultimately it’s down to you. The second time is even worse but I saw he was always out there working hard on the pitch. But he’s come back in great form to produce a performance like that. I remember it took me a long time to hit top form when I returned from my injury whereas he lasted 90 minutes and immediately produced a great assist and nearly scored. We’re delighted that he’s back among us.”

15. What do you think of the Curva Sud’s support after the issues in recent seasons and now they’re back?

“Finally! That’s how the stadium has to be, with the Curva Sud. I don’t like to see the stadium without the Curva Sud. Luckily the fans kept coming anyway but the Curva Sud gives you the edge when the going gets tough because they sing all game long and they’re important. We really need their support this season.”

16. What was it like to be a part of Francesco Totti’s farewell from football?

“It was very special.”

17. Did you cry?

“I’m Dutch so I didn’t but I think I was the only one in the whole ground who didn’t cry. It was very special and people were watching all over the world. It was very special to be on the pitch and to have played alongside him for four years. There’s nothing you can say about him on the pitch but also in the dressing room and he’s still important for us. We’re pleased he’s stayed with us as director but it’s a bit odd not seeing him out there on the pitch. Now he’s in club colours in the stands but it was very special indeed.”

18. What do Rome and Roma mean to you now after all these years?

“It’s hard to explain but, as I’ve said many times, the club has supported me a lot and there have been lots of special moments here - both good times and bad. I’m back playing now and there’s nothing I can say about Roma, nor indeed about the city. Rome is a gorgeous city and if I have a couple of days off, I don’t want to go back to Holland, I always want to stay here. The weather’s lovely and it’s a great lifestyle here. Both the club and the city are special to me and they will always be.”

19. How come you never smile on the pitch?

“Never? Maybe after a goal, or not even?”

20. I seem to remember you smiling after scoring. First you get angry…

“Yeah, maybe if I score but if someone else scores I do smile.”

21. When the other guys score, you smile, whereas when you find the net, you’re just buzzing!

“No, seriously though I do occasionally smile on the pitch.”

22. Who’s meaner, you or Kolarov?

“He’s a lot meaner, you can see that from a mile off. He has much more of a mean face than I do.”

23. Do you watch any TV series and if so what’s your favourite?

“Yes, I’m always watching Netflix. I watch Narcos, Breaking Bad and Entourage but that’s about 10 years old now. I must have seen every series three or four times.”

24. So that’s one you’d recommend because it’s less famous than the other two you mentioned?

“I watch Revenge too.”

25. So let’s recommend Entourage to those who don’t know it…

“Give it a try.”

26. Can you cook and what’s your signature dish?

“Yes, I cook. I’m not going to say I’m a good cook! If I’m in the house on my own, I cook. If my girlfriend’s home, she does it. But occasionally I cook too.”

27. Tell us what you make? Pasta?

“Yes, pasta, chicken, vegetables...”

28. What’s your favourite Italian dish, even if someone else cooks it. Could you say hi to Chiara too?

“Hi Chiara! Pasta with garlic, oil and chilli. It’s delicious. Sadly I can’t eat it every day but it’s so good.”

29. What’s your relationship like with El Shaarawy?

“He’s a great bloke and he’s very important for us.”