#AskJuanJesus: The defender answers your questions!

On Thursday afternoon Juan Jesus became the latest Roma player to sit down for a live Facebook interview.

See everything he had to say, in response to questions sent in by fans from around the world, in the transcript below...

Why did you change shirt number from No.3 to No.5?

“I’ve always played with No.5, when I was at Inter as well. Last season, Paredes asked me if he could play in No.5 and I said yes. It doesn’t make a huge difference to me, so I gave it to him. However, Paredes unfortunately left before this season, so I took it back.”

The shirt became free again...

“Yes, I’ve got the No.5 shirt back, the same as [Paulo Roberto] Falcao, which is very important.”

It seems like No.5 brings a good luck because…

“Yes, we’re doing really well.”

The team is doing well, you’re in good form. I imagine you’re pleased.

“We’ve made a great start and we hope to finish 2017 well before kicking on in 2018.”

Speaking of your excellent start, do you feel stronger in Europe after the two games against Chelsea this season?

“We’re trying to improve in both Serie A and the Champions League. We also showed our ability in the league against Fiorentina recently, a game we knew was going to be tough but even still, we managed to get the three points. We have to focus on always getting better, in the league and in Europe, because Roma are a great club. We’re proving that we can beat anyone.”

When you were trailing by two goals at Stamford Bridge – two goals in quick succession with that strange deflected ball [that led to Eden Hazard’s goal] – did you think for a moment that it was going to end badly? Or did you clear your heads and imagine as if it were 0-0?

“It was difficult because they quickly went into a 2-0 lead. It was a tough game and at that moment we were thinking, ‘Let’s not concede anymore.’ We were 2-0 down but we bounced straight back into it, showing a winning mentality. This helped us draw level and take home a great result, because a draw at Stamford Bridge is worth a victory. On home soil, we showed our true ability and put in a terrific performance. They hardly created any chances.”

What job would you have liked to do if you hadn’t become a footballer? Did you ever think about that?

“Never, because when I was little my older brother was already playing football. My brother was a midfielder before he stopped and became a civil engineer – he’s an intelligent guy! It would have been a waste if he chose football! I’m not saying that all of us footballers are idiots, but he was too smart and better at other things. But in any case I grew up around football, so it’s hard for me to imagine doing another job. It’s hard to think of me being, I don’t know, a butcher or something like that.”

We have a question here that already includes the answer. Who is your closest friend in the squad and why is it Alisson?

“I’ve known Alisson since we were 14. We were in the same team growing up, [Sport Club] Internacional from Porte Alegre. We found each other here too. He’s my best friend and so are our wives; they were pregnant at the same time and our children were born just over a month apart, which was nice. But I get on well with everybody. It’s not as if: ‘He’s my best friend and nobody else.’ The lads in the changing room are brilliant. I’ve never been part of a squad like this in football, whether in Italy or Brazil. A squad in which everyone is nice and helps each other out. I’m really happy here.”

From the outside, you can see the importance of the Brazilian core of players. When Gerson scored, you all ran over to celebrate with him.

“Yes, because we said before the game that he would score. We even said how it would go in and he did exactly what we said!”

Brilliant. Tell him more often!

“It worked out fantastically.”

Who is the funniest team-mate in the changing room and in training?

“There are a few guys… [Aleksandar] Kolarov! [Daniele] De Rossi is always joking around in the changing room, as are [Alessandro] Florenzi, Radja [Nainggolan] and Bruno Peres. There are a lot of jokers in the changing room.”

What relationship do you have with Kolarov? I must say we get this question a lot, as everyone wants to know how people get on with Kolarov. We’re all a bit afraid of him!

“He’s a serious guy, it’s part of his character. He’s also a great person and a fantastic professional. You don’t need to be afraid of him, he’s not going to shoot anybody. He’s a top bloke.”

Does it help having someone like him next to you on the pitch?

“Yes, loads, both because of his ability and his personal qualities. He’s an amazing player. It’s great for us because he’s able to push forward, defend well, he’s strong and his free-kicks win us matches.

Does he get angry when you make mistakes?

“Yes, if you miss up while doing something, he goes mad, but that’s OK.”

It helps keep the concentration high, right?

“Yes, every now and again it’s OK.”

Ahmed asks: What’s the most positive thing about playing under Eusebio Di Francesco? You were one of the first in this squad to begin working with him.

“The way we keep it short as a team. If we’re tight as a unit, we can work the ball anywhere. I think this is the difference that everyone has noticed. We don’t always use the offside trap, but when we do it’s because we’ve stayed together: we help out the midfielders and the midfielders help out the forwards. This above all.”

Even so, you play the offside trap well.

“Every now and again, it works because otherwise you have to sprint 20-30 metres towards your own goal and that’s not good.”

Then you get tired...

“It’s our job. If we get tired, we just have to continue running.”

How do you get on with [Stephan] El Sharaawy?

“I’ve known El Sha for a while. We’ve faced each other as opponents many times during AC Milan v Inter. I have a good relationship with him. He’s a cool guy. He doesn’t talk that much, but he’s a fantastic guy and a great footballer. As I said before, in our squad there’s no one who has a go at the others. We’re all good people.”

What’s the best moment you’ve experienced since being at Roma?

“I think after match against Atalanta, the first match of the season, I had given a response to everyone who criticised me. I sent out a message why I chose to come to Roma and showed my true ability. The match went perfectly and everything came off for me. That was my response to everybody and I gained more respect as a result.”

I think you showed your true ability last season as well.

“Yes, I know I finished last season very well and I picked up this season where I left off. It gave me more confidence that I can continue doing my bit for Roma and the team.”

What did you think of Roma when you were at Inter?

“Roma have always been a tough team. Ever since I moved to Italy, Roma have always finished above Inter. They’ve done consistently well and were always a difficult team to play against, especially when they had players like [Erik] Lamela, [Dani] Osvaldo, [Francesco] Totti and Gervinho. They always had talented forwards. Roma have always been a top club.”

Which one of these players caused you the most problems during games?

“Francesco, of course, because if you try to close him down, he’ll pass it off first time but if you drop off him, he’ll take a touch and play in Gervinho. You never know what to do. He’s was always the guy who caused most damage to other teams.”

What do you like most about Rome as a city?

“The food: the cacio e pepe and carbonara are delicious. Historically it’s a beautiful city to walk around and see the beautiful monuments, such as the Altare della Patria or the Colosseum.”

Do you ever get time to see anything?

“Occasionally. I saw more of Rome when I was a tourist, coming here from Milan with my family. Back then I was able to walk around in peace, but now I pass through occasionally and see things through my car window.”

How much do you use social media?

"I think it’s important nowadays. It’s good to have a positive image and it’s also useful if you want to defend yourself against something you haven’t said, for example. It’s 2017 and technology is changing really fast. People say you shouldn’t let kids spend too much time on their phones and things, but that’s the way of the world now. Before we didn’t even have telephones but now we can take videos and put them on the internet straight away. It’s important. You shouldn’t use it too much, but it’s good to know how. I don’t use it so much now because I have a son and need to play with him at home as that’s more important – that’s something that really matters. I respond to fans from time to time, but I spend my time doing other things now."

We’ve seen you respond to people in quite a clever way when they’ve crossed the line…

"Yeah, it’s good for defending yourself because you can send a message to everyone. It’s 2017 and we can’t be doing with racism and religious discrimination. We should respect each other – people have different tastes and we have to accept that. If people are fair then that’s fine."

It’s also a good opportunity to take the mick out of Alisson when he falls asleep!

"He’s always sleeping! We don’t even bother anymore – we take off on the plane and he’ll be out cold after five minutes."

Can you cook?

"I’m good at desserts! As for cooking, I can make nice things from time to time, but it’s not my biggest passion. I prefer making desserts."

What’s your favourite dish?

"I like this ravioli dish, but I probably shouldn’t say which restaurant serves it. It’s a restaurant in Rome and the ravioli are my favourite. They’re made with ricotta – they seem simple but they’re not."

In Brazil, do they eat sweet or savoury food for breakfast? What kind of thing do you have for breakfast?

"They have a bit of everything in Brazil. I mix it up a bit between sweet and savoury – I don’t just stick to one thing. I eat everything – it makes me happy!"

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three films with you, which would you pick?

"Three films... one would be the second Avengers film, which was great. I’ll also pick Iron Man and Batman v Superman. I collect superheroes – I really like them."

What about three videogames?

"FIFA 18, of course. Rainbow Six, which I play very often. And a racing game like Gran Turismo or something."

Are you good at Rainbow Six?

"Yep, very good. I started playing two years ago and I’ve barely stopped since – I don’t even play other games because when I do I just want to swap back! It’s online so it’s really fun. I’m on level 100 or 150 or something and it goes up to 200 I think."

Does anyone ever recognise you while you’re playing online?

"No, because my username doesn’t contain my name or anything, but sometimes I put stuff on Instagram so some people might catch on. I’ve disabled the chat function though because otherwise I’d get hundreds and hundreds of invites! Alisson has been playing for five or six months and he’s good too, especially when it’s one-on-one."

How do you feel when you walk out onto the football pitch?

"Well, the most emotional time was my first Champions League match against Atletico Madrid at home, because it was a childhood dream come true. It’s where all kids want to get to and I was finally there, so it was an unforgettable evening. In general, it’s good to be excited but you also need to be focused because that’s your job. You’re there to defend – it’s like a solider going into battle. You have to go and get it done."

Did you like school and did you have a favourite subject?

"Yes, I liked it because otherwise I had to be at home where my parents would nag me! All of us did well at school and finished our time there. My favourite subject was Geography – it was quite easy remembering all the countries and things. I like all that latitude and longitude stuff, Greenwich Meridian and the Equator. I studied a lot and was good at it!"