Olsen: I knew there would be pressure on me, replacing a great goalkeeper

The Sweden international, a summer signing from FC Copenhagen, was named the fans’ man of the match for his performance against Napoli on Sunday evening, despite Roma conceding a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw at the Stadio San Paolo.

“At the final whistle i was relaly disappointed and it felt to me like we had given up two points, or at least it felt more like two points dropped than one earned,” Olsen told the club’s official match programme.

“Now, with a clearer head, looking back on the game, considering how the game went overall we can be satisfied with the point we earned – even if obviously we also go out there to take the three points and the win. At the final whistle the disappointment was huge.”

Nevertheless, the 28-year-old is growing in confidence with every passing game for coach Eusebio Di Francesco. He already has amassed five clean sheets in all competitions, and has quickly grasped what Di Francesco and goalkeeper coach Marco Savorani want from him – even if it was all markedly different from what he had been used to.

Olsen has also had to cope with inheriting the No. 1 shirt from Alisson Becker, the Brazilian who was sold for a (then) world record fee for a goalkeeper in the summer.

“It’s true, when I arrived there was a lot of pressure and attention on me, but that’s normal when you join a big club,” Olsen reflected.

“Roma had just sold a great goalkeeper like Alisson, and then I came in to replace him. I expected there to be a lot of pressure and I knew that I would have to show my ability out on the pitch. I am working hard every day, every minute, to show I have the quality required.”

He added: “The difference in football from where I come from and Italy is huge. It’s completely different, clearly Serie A is a far harder and better league – there is no comparison. Now I play with better players and against better players, it’s completely different.

“When I arrived it was all totally new; a new way of working, new techniques and methods. I needed a bit of time, I needed to settle in. I found a new coach [Savorani], for whom hard work is everything – and he focuses on everything, even the smallest details. Technique, positioning between the posts, with the ball at your feet... we try to work on all of that, to improve.

“On the pitch my Italian is getting better, I don’t have any issues talking to my teammates and making myself understood. I understand a bit more all the time; I’ve been here three months so clearly I can still improve a lot more, so I think slowly I will learn Italian to use day-to-day too.”

The Giallorossi’s season so far has been marked by a fair amount of inconsistency, with defeats against the likes of Bologna and SPAL offset by impressive performances elsewhere – especially in the Champions League. Why has that been the case?

“To tell you the truth I don’t have an answer [for that], because at times we’ve played great and others we haven’t reached the same heights,” he said.

“It’s difficult to give an answer, other than to assure you that we always go out there to do everything we can to win and take the three points. Sometimes we manage that, and sometimes we don’t.

“We have to improve and win, especially at home. We can’t allow ourselves to drop points like we did against SPAL at home, when we weren’t great. But then three days later we were brilliant against CSKA. We need to find a bit more consistency.”

Next up for Olsen and the squad, it’s Fiorentina on Saturday.

“I expect another tough game, another big away game against a good side,” he said.

“Luckily we have had almost a full week to get ready. The aim is to come back with the three points.”