Pedro: I want to help Roma win trophies

In an exclusive interview with Roma TV, the World Cup winner talks us through what life has been like since he decided to join the Giallorossi in the summer.

Here's what the Spaniard had to say...

What convinced you to join Roma when you were still at Chelsea? You must have had offers from clubs all over Europe...

“Yes, I did have several offers on the table. In the end I chose Roma because I wanted to play in a different league and a different country, get to know a new culture and a new language. Spain and Italy are very similar in that sense.

"As I said, I wanted to test myself in a different league. I'd never played in Serie A before. I'm happy with my choice for many reasons. I'd also spoken to the coach and I wanted to be part of a successful team and help Roma achieve something important. Another reason I chose Roma is that they haven't won anything for a while. I hope we can keep challenging until the end, as we're doing now, and maybe win a trophy. It would be a great thing for this club.”

How have you settled in Rome? Is it like Spain? Have you been able to visit the city despite the restrictions?

“It's not easy because these are difficult times. There are lots of restrictions with new cases being reported every day so it's hard to really enjoy the city. I've walked around the centre and got to see the main sights of Rome. It's a fantastic, world-famous city with an incredible history.

"From the moment I arrived, the people were very friendly and always treated me really nicely when I went into a shop, restaurant or supermarket. That made it easy to settle in quickly. The first year is often difficult because you're in a new place, you don't understand the language and you're not familiar with the league. I was lucky because my team-mates gave me a brilliant welcome. I'm very happy about that.”

You said you spoke to the coach. They say he has a winning mentality and he wants Roma to be a winning team. How would you describe Paulo Fonseca? What are his qualities?

“He's a winning coach because he always prepares for matches with the aim of winning them. During the week he sometimes changes the way we press or how we play against a certain opponent and that shows how much he wants to win all the time. He's a coach who works really well on attacking play. I like that a lot because I've spent most of my career playing a high pressing game, trying to regain possession quickly near the opposition goal. It's a football philosophy I buy into and it makes it easy for me to work with him.”

What role has he given you within the team?

“It's basically the same role I've had throughout my career: come inside and link up with the strikers, create chances and get into the box. That's what I'm good at. I try to share my experience in the dressing room and help the younger players. I try to give them advice and instil the right mentality about sticking together at all times. We've done well since I've been here. We're very close in the dressing room and that has to come out on the pitch. We must be a strong team that's tough to beat if we want to achieve our goals.”

You mentioned your experience and the dressing room. Do you feel like one of the leaders in the dressing room? How can your experience help Roma?

“I don't know if I'm a leader in the dressing room. I know I have a fair bit of experience. I've played in various teams, very good teams at Barcelona and Chelsea. And I've played for Spain too. I've been around for a long time, I've played lots of matches and because of that when you have something to say your team-mates listen to you. As I said, we must stick together with this mentality and keep working so that we can achieve great results.

"We have a great group of players who are keen to work – that goes both for the youngsters and the more experienced guys. We have young players like [Gianluca] Mancini and [Lorenzo] Pellegrini, who are already well established, and others who are very promising like Borja [Mayoral], Gonzalo [Villar] and Carles [Perez], who have a lot to offer this team in the future. It's up to the older players like myself, Miki [Henrikh Mkhitaryan] and [Edin] Dzeko to share our experience. If we all work together, we can achieve great things.”

After winning so many trophies, when you left Chelsea did you never consider going back to the Canaries to enjoy your success in the sun and just relax?

“No, I didn't to be honest. It's true that the years are passing and sadly everything comes to an end. I don't have many years left playing – but that's exactly why I wanted to come here, to try and win more trophies at a club like Roma. You can see how much people in the city want this team to start winning again. Hopefully we'll be able to do that. I know it's a big and difficult challenge but we're all working to try to make it happen.”

Do you think Roma can win the Europa League this year?

“Of course we can win it. We know there are some great teams in it and every match will be difficult. Braga will be very tough, especially at their place. We have to prepare for it really well and play intelligently. I think that's very important especially as it's a match played over 180 minutes. If we do that, we can go through and maybe go all the way.

"It's a long competition and we have to take one thing at a time, but there's no reason why we can't go all the way with the team we have.”

Speaking of your experience of European football, what do you think a team needs to win in Europe?

“It's important to work together as a team. You have to be smart because there are games when you have to play for time and try not to concede. That's very important in the knockout stages of the Europa League and Champions League. You have to be solid, not concede and make the most of the chances you get. If you do that, you progress.

"But the most important thing is taking each game as it comes, each round as it comes. You mustn't think about winning it but about not getting knocked out – that makes you want to play the perfect game so you can reach the next round.”