De Rossi: We need to cut out the drops in performance

Roma won 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, thanks to goals from Edin Dzeko (2) and Cengiz Under.

De Rossi played just over an hour on his return to match action, before being substituted.

If that’s how you play with a fracture [in your foot], how will you be without?

“Since the Empoli match I’ve not trained much with the team. I was worried I might not be able to keep going for the duration and perhaps my level dropped in the second half.”

How do you explain the difference between your form in the league and cup?

“We’ve not performed at the level that we’re capable of in the league. We need to get back into the top four and if we play as we know we can, it’s within our reach. These drop offs in performance are a worry and we need to avoid them. At the moment we’re doing well in the Champions League and less so in the league, a bit like last year.”

Are you a side that express themselves better in cup competitions?

“Though Juventus are on a different level, it’s the league that is most within our reach. If Juventus have a poor season in the league, we need to be ready. Champions League is another level, where even your best performance might not be enough. It’s shame we’re so far off the pace in the league – partly because of our own mistakes and partly because Juventus have won almost every match.”

What happened in your preparations for the SPAL match that Eusebio Di Francesco was not happy about?

“That will remain between us – the usual, everyday goings-on, but maybe not at a team like Juventus. There are a lot of us – sometimes us older players are absent and sometimes the younger players are a bit wild and the manager needs to keep them under control, as he’s very good at doing. We need to be at our best if we’re going to achieve great things, as we did last year.”

Talking to Fabio Capello.

“To mention the fact that he gave me my debut does not do justice to how much Fabio Capello did for me and how important he has been to my entire career since.”