Radja Nainggolan’s 2015 Roma Review

Let’s begin with the derby and Totti’s selfie. What do you remember about that match?

“We got off to a bad start but then he saved the day. It was even more of a celebration for us and the fans because it was such a delicate match. Totti is a Roma icon and he always will be. He's achieved great things spending his whole career at one club – that's the first thing that ties him to the fans. Their bond is strengthened even more by his celebrations and the love he shows them.”

How important was your goal against Udinese in May?

“That was a really delicate period. The derby was coming right after that and things weren't going well for us. Once I scored the equaliser I was sure we'd go on to win the match. We were playing better than we had been in previous outings and that game was the spark we needed to finish the season strong and clinch second place.”

What about Yanga-Mbiwa's winner in the derby?

“That was a really tough match for us. Lazio were the form team at the time and we won it thanks to a gritty performance and good football. We deserved to win and pull clear of them in the table.”

You signed a new contract until 2020 in the summer. What did that mean to you?

“It was what I wanted. I'd received other offers but I kept saying I wanted to stay. I'm sure this team can win things and the fans deserve it. I'd also said that I'd never join a direct rival – I just wanted to stay.”

You went back to Indonesia last summer. What was that like for you?

“They show incredible enthusiasm for me. They see me as a top-level player who symbolises their country and lots of them follow me. I went there a few years ago when I was still at Cagliari and this year I went back with Roma. I didn't expect to see so many Giallorossi fans and they knew all the Olimpico songs. That was really nice – and they were very good! I have even more Indonesian fans now that I play for Roma.”

How good did beating Juventus feel in August?

“It's been always a special game for me against Juventus, even when I played for Cagliari. The match came at a good time – it felt good to beat them in the second game of the season and leave them behind in the table. Afterwards we managed to extend our lead even further when we went through our best period of form.”

One of the highlights of the year has to be Florenzi’s strike against Barcelona in September...

“I was there trying to work out what he'd done. After he hit the ball, it was in the air for four seconds before it reached the goal and we were all standing there with baited breath to see where it would end up. It went in and that was against a team who at the time we could only score against with a piece of individual brilliance.

You don't often see goals from the halfway line and it was great to share that joy with him. He deserves to win goal of the year for that. There are other great players in the running but I think his goal has something really special about it.”

The arrival of Mohamed Salah in the summer certainly lifted the fans...

“The more top players we have, the more competition there is and the better the team is. We're struggling a bit at the moment with so many new players but there's no doubt the quality is there. Maybe one of the problems is that everyone is trying to prove themselves too much. We had a fantastic start to the season and played some really good stuff. We all know those good times will return.”

We’ve spoken about some of the highs but the defeat to Barcelona was definitely the lowest point...

“Losing to Barcelona is fair enough but 6-1 was too much. Maybe we were distracted by Leverkusen's draw against BATE and we eased off because we knew we could afford to lose. We didn't play well and we have to move on from that as quickly as possible. You might think we were in shock after that game but I'm sure we'll pick ourselves up and keep challenging at the top.”

Lots of players struggle with the pressure when they join a big club but you seem to have risen to the challenge...

“We have a great team and I think it's easy for me to play alongside great players. A great team ticks along by itself and and it's easier for a new player to settle in and feel at ease. I can do better and so can the team. We need to improve a few things and get out of this dip. We've got the talent. When we want to score, we score goals. When we want to keep things tight, we don't concede. We just need to put all the parts together and do even better.”

What are your targets for 2016 with Roma and Belgium?

“I hope we can win something and I hope that a very unlucky player [Kevin Strootman] returns – he's not far off. The Coppa Italia has gone now but we still have the league and I'm confident we can do well. As for Belgium, we've been drawn in Italy's group and it will be a tough game. The Azzurri can be a match for anyone in tournaments like this but I hope to win something with Belgium.”