Falque desperate to prove he belongs at top level

The Spanish forward, who arrives in Rome after plundering 13 Serie A goals with Genoa last season, has chosen the No. 14 jersey and spoke to the media about his first impressions of his new team-mates, his ambitions at the club and his desire to build on the good work he did last season.

What’s your objective for this season?
“The aim is to win. That’s what they told me as soon as I arrived.”

What are your first impressions of Roma and your new team-mates?
“I was with them all day yesterday and today and I’m very happy. I’ve spoken with the coach and my team-mates and I can’t wait to get started.”

Would second place for Roma this season be a failure?
“A club like Roma needs to be aiming as high as possible, always. We’ve finished second twice in a row and now we’re working hard to reach Juventus.”

After a few up-and-down years, you had a wonderful breakout season with Genoa last year. Were you expecting a call from Roma?
“Yeah, before the last two years I didn’t have the same level of maturity as I do now. Last year was the best season of my career, I had a great year – as did the whole team – and that earned me the chance to move to a big club. Now I’m desperate to show that I can play at this standard.”

Have you spoken much with Rudi Garcia? What is he expecting from you?
“I’ve spoken with him, but we’ve not talked about tactics yet. We’ll start discussing that as and when. When such a big club buys a player it’s because it knows what that player can bring to the table. I’m convinced I can do very well here like I did last season at Genoa.”

What position do you feel most comfortable in?
“Last year I played almost always on the right wing. That’s where I’ve played most over the last few years and it’s the position I like the best. But if the coach wants something different from me I’ll be happy to do it.”

Roma struggled for goals last year – do you think you can overcome the pressure that the city brings and reach double figures for the club?
“When you sign for a team like Roma you know there’s going to be a lot of pressure and that you’ll need to perform well, because there are a lot of fans watching. That’s what footballers want, though. Last year I scored 13 goals – I won’t set myself a target for this season but I hope to do just as well.”

Were your good performances last season solely down to your mentality and maturity, or did the environment and the tactics at Genoa help you too?
“I think the most important thing was the faith shown in me, but my own maturity was also a factor. Few believed in me when I arrived in Italy but I’ve done well. Now I’m a Roma player and I want to show I can cut it at a club of this stature.”

How many title rivals do Roma have?
“We need to focus on ourselves, keep our heads down and make steps forward. What the other clubs do isn’t our problem – we’ve got a great roster and a good team and I’m sure more players will arrive to boot. We can go toe-to-toe with anyone in this league.”