Alisson ready to take his chance to show his quality

After a learning experience in his first season, where he played in the cup competitions as Wojciech Szczesny started in Serie A, the Brazilian has been promoted to No. 1 ahead of the new campaign - and is eager to make the most of the chance.

"It’s an important year for me," Alisson told Roma TV. "My chance has come, the club and the fans have shown faith in me.

"I always want to give my best, for my teammates and for the fans.”

Goalkeeping coach Savorani has been working with you a lot already...

“It needs to be like this, in our position we can’t make mistakes and so we have to work even harder than our teammates.”

How would you describe Alisson as a goalkeeper?

“As a good guy, but someone who plays angry on the pitch and is keen to do everything on the pitch to be the best. He’s fast, works hard and has a real determination to win.”

What has changed for you after a year in Europe?

"I learned a lot in a year, I also changed my approach a little bit. Savorani likes to work a lot on positioning and that is something I enjoy. The way of working with the ball at your feet is also something that is a bit different from Brazil to Europe.”

The best goalkeepers from Brazil have always refined their technique in Europe.

“Yes, and those that I asked about coming here to play told me that is something I would gain from the experience. My brother [also a goalkeeper] now plays in Europe. Also the way of living is different, we work in a calmer way and this is important for my quality of life.”

Who made the decision you would be a goalkeeper?

“When I played when I was very small so I was always put in goal. But straight away I liked it, and I was also watching my brother who was a great goalkeeper. I would go and watch him in training. I played a bit more out on the pitch after that but I wanted to be in goal.”

Compared to Brazil are you working more with the ball at your feet?

“Also at Internacional I liked to play with my feet. When I arrived in Italy I had to continue doing that I learned a lot and am improving.”

How was it to save a penalty from Perotti?

‘He is a good guy, his penalties are really difficult. He takes 10 penalties in every training, so I have studied him a lot. He has a particular technique … and let’s just say I’ve learned a few things.”

On the subject of Perotti, he said he trained throughout the summer.

“That’s great, it shows he has a real desire to win. He is a strong player like all Argentines, mentally and technically, and he helped us to reach the Champions League in a really crazy game, where we really wanted to win. It was also Francesco’s last game. He worked hard for that moment and has worked hard afterwards too, to be ready for an important season for us.”

How hard will it be to improve compared to last season?

This year the competition is getting stronger, so we must have the right approach and work hard. The championship does not start in August – it’s already started. In football the earlier you get to work, the better.”

Roma have a great tradition of Brazilian players. But changing continents at 20 years old like Gerson did isn’t easy though, is it?

“That’s true, everything changes: the weather, the language, the style of play. But I think he is a good player, ready to learn and I think he can be good for Roma and give the fans what they want.”

Rome, for a Brazilian, must still be an almost ideal place though.

“We have so many great examples at Roma: Cafu, Emerson, Falcao … I find it great, here it is quite similar to the south of Brazil, where it is cold and hot like Rome. Also the language is not too difficult to learn.”