De Rossi: “You don’t turn down Roma. This is a great team”

Here’s what the boss had to say on the eve of the Giallorossi’s home game against Hellas Verona.

What have you got planned? Which Roma have you seen and which Roma would you like to see?

“I’m smiling, not because of the question, but because I can see some friendly faces that I didn’t think I’d see. When you change coach, you always see players going a hundred miles an hour in the first few training sessions. It’s inevitable. Whether you’re replacing a great coach or an average coach, that’s always the way.

“The first few training sessions give you some sort of idea. We need to see if we can keep this intensity up long-term. But it’s been an incredible response. The lads are really going for it. They’re training hard and they’re very willing. It seems they’re taking on board the two or three new concepts we want to introduce - not more than that because at the start, the first three or four days, you risk causing too much confusion. They’ve been like sponges, and I thank them for that.”

Have you heard from Francesco Totti?

“We’ve spoken. He sent me a good luck message. He told me how happy he was and how surprised he was. That was my reaction at first too. We’ve spoken a couple of times over the past few days, and we promised we’d see each other. He’s off to China now, if I’m not mistaken.

“We’ll see each other soon and spend some time together. That’s always something we enjoy, irrespective of Roma, who’s coaching the team and the work we’re doing.”

What’s the main problem you need to solve? What would you be happy with at the end of the season?

“I’d be happy if we were in the top four at the end of the season. That’s what we’re aiming for. It won’t be easy, but it’s definitely possible.

“When you switch coaches, there are always a few problems. I experienced it a year ago: I didn’t think there were lots of problems but the club [SPAL] did. I think the coach [Jose Mourinho] and club [Roma] could say the same now.

“It’s not unusual in the world of football. There are problems that I’m not going to look at too closely. I need to try and start from 0-0, just like in a match. I need to see what I think isn’t working. You can’t analyse everything in the space of three to four days, I can tell you that.

“I’m lucky because, being a fan, I’ve watched every Roma match. If I were at another club, I’d have to start from zero and watch all the footage. This is the team I know best in the world because I’m a fan. Maybe that’s reduced my study time a bit.”

Was this the right moment to come home, to come back to Roma?

“Do you think it was the right moment to turn down Roma?”

I don’t think so.

“There we go. I asked you that jokingly. You don’t turn down Roma. It’s a bit like what happened to [Andrea] Pirlo a couple of years ago when he went to Juventus. He started with the Under 23s and then he found himself in this situation.

“There are men who turn things down and there are men who throw themselves into it. I didn’t just want to come back to wear the jumper. It’s not out of habit or nostalgia. You do a quick analysis of the team’s values and the only reason why I would’ve said no is if I thought the team was average, or bad. I wouldn’t come here to show myself up if I was sure it would happen. I think this is a great team. I think the work we do here will help us impress and it will help me in my career development too. Where it’ll take us, we’ll see in a few months.”

In a previous interview you said you don’t like the phrase “my football”. What would you like Daniele De Rossi’s football to be remembered for?

“’My football’ makes me shudder. I sometimes hear coaches say it, coaches that I love and respect. It’s an incorrect expression because it’s not my football.

“If [Pep] Guardiola said ‘my football’, then we’d listen and ask him to explain because he’s got that hint of genius that changed things. The same goes for [Roberto] De Zerbi, [Diego] Simeone or Antonio Conte. They all changed something in the world of football.

“I don’t think I’m on their level. I don’t know if I’ve got a similar trademark. I think you can recognise a good coach from how their teams play.

“There are great coaches who haven’t invented anything, but you could tell which team is theirs with your eyes closed. If at the end of this journey, Roma are recognisable and the players know what they have to do on the pitch in a productive and organised way, then I’ll be happy with that. I’d be remembered as someone who made the team play well and got them to win. That’s more than enough for me.”

We heard that there are no conditions to your contract after its expiry, but there is a fourth-place bonus. Has the Europa League been mentioned as a goal? Did you talk about staying longer?

“The presidents, Dan and Ryan Friedkin, were very clear on the duration of my contract and the tenure of my time here.

“I said ‘Okay, great. You name a figure and I want a bonus for Champions League qualification.’ I didn’t sign a blank contract because there wasn’t actually a contract but I would have signed for whatever figure they put.

“I think that was due because of what I represent here and the huge opportunity I’m being given. I obviously won’t do that throughout my whole career.

“There are no conditions. There are no automatic renewals. There’s nothing. It’s a six-month contract. I said that was fine with me. I wanted to play my cards. The only thing I asked was to be treated as a coach and not as an ex-player or a club legend. I don’t need to go round the pitch with Romolo or the kids.

“They were in full agreement with that. They were sure there would be no misunderstandings. They know that from the moment that first message arrived – one I really did not expect - I’d fight to the death to stay here.

“That was understood, and I think they’re happy with that: a coach who tries to keep his job by playing clean, without leveraging what I was before, by trying to earn the right to stay here on the pitch. That would be a dream for me.”

Do you know if you’ll go for a three- or four-man defence? Is there one tactic you prefer?

“I fell in love with this job with [Luciano] Spalletti and then Luis Enrique. These types of coaches, who put lots of men up front and automatically play a four-man defence, made me fall in love, gave me inspiration and my best seasons.

“However, this team has been playing a three-man defence for years. They were built to play three at the back. We’ll wait until the last minute to decide. We’ve tried both ways.

“I think you can defend with one set-up and build play with another. Those changes might be a bit clunky at the start because they don’t come naturally, but it wouldn’t take long to sink into the minds of such experienced players. We’ll see. I might also switch it up during a match or throughout the season. Some matches we might play with three at the back, and others with four. It’s also down to our game plan and who our opponent is.”

Some people say you were picked due to your calming effect. Do you think that’s right? Is that a bit destabilising or could it be extra encouragement for you, the team, for Roma?

“I don’t need any more encouragement. It’s not destabilising at all. I’m not stupid. ‘Calming’ is a bit of a bad way to describe the choice.

“When the management has to make a decision on who should replace such an important and beloved coach, they have to consider numerous factors. I’m not saying that I’m absolutely the right choice, but if I close my eyes and think of other available coaches being sat here today, I think the reaction of the fans could’ve been even more devastating for the team in the short term.

“I think the fans are an important part of it, especially in recent years. Those big crowds, the huge amount of love they’ve shown the team… I think they’ve helped in getting points. I don’t think any Roma fan can love two people at the same time. You can’t take away the love they had and still have for Mourinho, but I don’t think it’ll be difficult for them to start to love me too. Let’s maintain the love, the passion and the noise I saw at the stadium last time I was here.

 “They obviously didn’t choose me because they were amazed by SPAL’s results and performances. I’m not stupid. Saying it’s to calm things down isn’t nice. It’s an informed decision based on environmental factors, leadership… on lots of other things. We’ll find out if it was the right choice soon. I took advantage of it. I think this is a huge chance for me to become the coach I want to become.”

Did you expect your return to Roma to be like this? When you entered the dressing room, did you feel like the Roma coach?

“That's very similar to the previous question. No, you don't expect – you don't dream – that the most successful coach in history gets sacked and you get brought in.

“But I was aware. I wasn't forced. No one pointed a gun at my head and told me to accept. I expected a more gradual process. But if you look at the history of football, there are plenty of examples of coaches who came in as a caretaker, maybe for a few games while waiting for another coach to sign, and ended up staying.

“Perhaps the most recent example is Raffaele Palladino. I don't think he was originally brought in for the long term but he's one of the top two or three coaches in Italy at the moment. What's happened to me is not that rare but I did imagine it would be different.

“I do feel like the coach of Roma. More on the training ground than in the dressing room because you can't get away from the familiarity you have with most of the players – and I don't intend to get away from it. I think there can be respect even if you know you're friends. I don't need to pretend that I've never been here or that I'm not very close to [Lorenzo] Pellegrini, [Bryan] Cristante, etc., etc. I've never pretended in here. I never pretended with my team-mates and I never pretended with the fans.

“I don't need to pretend. Someone suggested I shouldn't come here with my car because, you know, maybe it's too... I don't have to pretend I'm poor. I don't have to pretend. I have to coach.

“Once we left the dressing room and went onto the pitch – that's when I felt like the coach. Because they look at me, they listen to me and they do as I say. The impression I've had from the first few days is they like what they hear. That doesn't make you a good coach but perhaps you are if your ideas and what you do gets you points.”

Did Mourinho get fed up of Roma? Did you speak to each other?

“I sent him a message – not because I had to but because I really wanted to. He was one of the first to write to me when I signed for SPAL. It was the right thing to do.

“I don't know if he got fed up. You'd have to ask him that. I couldn't say and with all due respect I'm not even that interested in that. I just have to focus on what's before me, on what I can change, what I can improve, what I can do, what I have to do. And in these four days I've had to talk about a lot of things besides football: contract, kit, etc. I can't wait to settle into normality so that I can spend my time watching, studying and thinking about football.”

You said Roma are a great team. Do you have an idea of what the main problems might be? Could it be a lack of motivation after two and a half years with the same coach? Or tactical problems? And have you been surprised by anyone in particular in these four days?

“I could see a few problems while I was watching matches. I don't think Roma were playing badly, as some people said. I think some games were very bad and others were very good. Those ups and downs are the reason we're off the pace in the league. But Roma played superbly against Atalanta – I saw that. Against Napoli too, I was at the stadium .

“So the team doesn't have huge problems playing football. They haven't been coached badly. They've had some problems and some inconsistent performances.

“We have ideas and reasons, we're asking ourselves questions, but I'm not going to talk about the reasons in a press conference because it would be disrespectful.

“I knew this was a great team. Then when you see these footballers in person, you can't help but be impressed. I was used to playing alongside great players. But when after quite a long time you see them again in training and you find yourself working with this level of footballer again, when you see the likes of [Paulo] Dybala, [Romelu] Lukaku, Pellegrini on the ball, you're impressed.

“Who have I been surprised by? I must admit I didn't know [Niccolo] Pisilli very well but he's a very good player – better than I thought. He's still a kid but I've been impressed by him. I admit I didn't know him and seeing him in action surprised me.”

What must you not underestimate about tomorrow's game against Verona?

“Lots of things. Verona, first of all. They're a solid outfit with a coach I rate very highly. He kept the ship steady at a time when people in Verona were talking about all matter of other things – transfers, sales, problems at club level, etc. He's classy and he engineered a huge win against Empoli, so I rate him a lot.

“Verona are a solid team with very physical players. You can see the way they want to play and they're capable of playing well.

“We also need to make sure we don't let first-game nerves get to us. I'm talking about myself – although I'm pretty calm – but the lads too. There's been a change and I hope this isn't the case but there could be some unrest.

 “We all need to be very passionate. Me in the dugout, the lads on the pitch and the fans in the stands.”