De Rossi: Kolarov is a model professional

The match at the Stadio Olimpico, the first leg in the tie, gets underway at 21:00 local time.

Read what De Rossi had to say about his fitness, his teammate Aleksandar Kolarov, and much more ahead of the game...

As a captain and a friend, you’ve spoken in defence of Aleksandar Kolarov. Is now the time to move on from the rift?

“I would be the happiest person in the world if the friction between Kolarov and the fans came to an end. I feel caught in the middle of it a bit: I love the Giallorossi fans, who have always protected me, and Alex is like a brother to me.

"All I can ask the fans to do is to continue to trust me: Kolarov is a great professional who loves what he does. I’m not saying he’s been a Roma fan all his life – but I am saying that he always gives what he needs to give, he never misses a training session and he plays even when he’s not fully fit. I prefer people like that to people who say nice things, kiss the badge and then go off when they feel the first bit of pain or make a face when they’re asked to play out of position.

"He’s one of the best professionals I’ve ever met. The fans need to be respected and we need to be patient when they show their displeasure over results. Tomorrow could be the right day to heal the rift and I would be the happiest man around if that were to happen.”

Can the experience of last year be of benefit to you?

“Definitely – it makes us more prepared for these really delicate games. Porto are used to playing these matches, but that experience gives us more confidence than we’ve had in the past. It was a positive experience and we can even say that we could have done even better. That said, we can’t get caught up in the past – we must prepare for the game as best we can.”

What have you made of Roma during your absence, from both a positive and a negative perspective?

“In terms of negatives, the results haven’t always been great and at times they’ve not reflected the way we’ve played, such as in the games against Real Madrid and Inter. Another negative, as the coach said, has been the lack of reaction after conceding. Apart from the Fiorentina match, the performances have been quite positive recently.”

Your team-mates and the coach often speak about how important you are. Provided you’re in good shape physically, will you play on for another season?

“I've always said that I'll continue to play for as long as I feel good physically. My team-mates and the coach don't realise how important they've been for me over the past three years - they've made me feel more important than I ever have in my career. I want to thank them for that. I know that when I play well, it’s because when you feel important and know how you need to play, everything becomes easier. I also want to thank them for how important they’ve made me feel during the months I’ve been out.”

Do you think you’re getting a different reception when you walk out onto the pitch now? Do you think the fans feel differently about you now that you’re approaching the end of your career?

“I’ve always felt at home at the stadium. I’ve been feeling a lot of warmth recently and I think that’s the same thing that happened to Francesco [Totti] – he had a few detractors over the course of his career, but in the end everyone bowed to his greatness. I’m not talking about myself here, but I can feel that the people love me.

"I need to keep focusing on the thought that the positive reception is down to playing good football. I can’t think about anything else – like the fact that I’ll be stopping playing soon. It’s right that there’s a positive reception when you do well and a negative one when you don’t.”

You’ve found yourselves staring into the abyss on three or four occasions this season, but the coach has always pulled you through. What it is about him that makes him able to do that?

“The coach has his football ethos and that doesn’t change whether things are going badly or well. He knows what’s happening on the pitch and is able to recognise problems. If a coach picked ten forwards or ten defenders when things are going badly, you would lose all balance.

"Coaches always have ups and downs in terms of their moods, but he’s always stayed on course, in a city where it’s not easy to keep your head. We’ve had negative moments but I think staring into the abyss is something else altogether. We’re fifth – I’ve been fifth from bottom before. I felt under more pressure then.”

Did you ever consider retiring during your absence?

“It was a question mark more than an idea. I spent three months working like a professional footballer should – I did everything I had to do to get back, because I believed I could. The question is how my fitness is going to hold up. I wouldn’t have been able to deal with an operation on my cartilage at the age of 35, but if my knee continues to respond well I don’t see why I need to ask myself these questions. If I feel good and am playing enough, I think I can continue playing.”

After three months in which you’ve shown your huge bond with the club and passion for your profession, could tomorrow be the culmination of a difficult period for you?

“Day after day, every time my knee responds well is a small victory. My bond with the club is about focusing on the match – that’s the most important thing, not how long I'll go on playing for. We need to think collectively rather than individually – we need to win tomorrow. The most important thing is the team.”