De Rossi: “A tough match with a fiery atmosphere”

Find out what the boss had to say...

How does it feel to be back here again nine years later in a different role? You said the other day there would be a fiery atmosphere and it's your first European match as coach. What emotions are you feeling?

“I'm happy to be able to make this European debut – it wasn't something you could have predicted not so long ago. Today is my daughter's birthday. Last year I spent 14 February at her party and a few hours later I was sacked.

“I'm sorry I can't spend it with Olivia but my mood is quite the opposite to last year, so I should be grateful. Sometimes you have to take a minute to realise how lucky we are, not only remember when things don't go well. I'm happy, pleased and I want to make the most of this.”

Will the atmosphere be a factor?

“Since I last came here as a player, there have been other matches between Roma and Feyenoord, and there was a lot on the line. It will be the same tomorrow. I'm sure there'll be a fiery atmosphere but then there are the lines on the pitch and that's where you play the game. The players go out there, athletes, with their ideas. That's what we need to focus on.”

Tomorrow will be a special match for you. If you had to choose a special game from the past, what would it be?

“I don't know. There were lots of good ones and lots of bad ones because ultimately we never lifted a trophy. We never won the last game of the season.

“However, there were lots of times when we pulled ourselves together. I remember losing 7-1 and leaving the stadium shot to pieces but then we picked ourselves up.

“The life of a sportsman, of a footballer, of athletes in general, is full of moments like that. And you get so much out of it when you manage to pick up the team, the mood, your mental state, and get the fans back on your side, even after a really bad night.

“If I had to pick one, maybe because it's the most recent, it would have to be when we beat Barcelona 3-0 – that was an unforgettable occasion. The strength of our opponents, the mental state of the Olimpico, the sounds... It was a crazy night, so I'd choose that one.

“There were lots of others – times when we were among the best eight, or best 16, in Europe. That's where we should be.”

How's Lorenzo Pellegrini? He looks like a player reborn. And what improvement do you expect to see tomorrow?

“Regarding Pellegrini, I can only assess what I've seen since I came in. I think that's fairer as I can judge it better. As a person, as a leader, as captain, I couldn't be happier with him. He always sets an example. He keeps getting better, not just physically and technically, but in every game and training session he's doing more and more of the things I want to see.

“We understand each other. He understands what I ask of him, as do all the others. I can only thank them for their efforts and attention, and for what they're showing me in matches.

“As for our improvement, it would have been a softer journey it it were 8 July and we were starting off against the locals. The result is secondary because you already know you'll win. Then you play the second friendly and the result is secondary because it doesn't mean anything anyway.

“Here we're starting out on that journey and at the same time we have to win games because we're being judged and because the league table was what it was. We have to win a lot of games and the result is always very important – for me as it is for any other coach. No coach thinks any different.

“You journalists talk about coaches focusing on the football or focusing on results but that's comical really because the result is always key for any coach.”

How different will your Roma team be to Jose Mourinho's?

“I can't say how different it is. Whenever a new coach comes in, he brings something of himself and things change. I've spent a long time analysing Mourinho's team because I needed to know what I was dealing with, although I'd always watched them as a fan. I watched all the games but I couldn't say how different they are.

“Mourinho got superb results with Roma, especially in Europe, so I hope that in that sense we're not far off. They got to the final two years in a row – that must be where we set the bar.

“Obviously every coach has their own vision, ideas, preferences. Whenever you bring in a new coach, he'll always do something different to his predecessor.”

What do you make of Feyenoord?

“I've studied them a lot over the last few weeks. I was impressed when I saw them at the Olimpico in last year's Europa League. They play good football and have some great players. They have quality wide players with great stamina. I have a lot of respect both for the way they play as a team and for their individual players.

“I think it will be a good game. Looking back at the previous meetings – regardless of the fact that Roma always came out on top – there were very evenly balanced, so I'm expecting a tough match.”

Will you change your approach depending on whether Santiago Gimenez plays?

“He's a very important player, a very good player, a centre forward, but if he doesn't play, someone else will. We've looked at the individual qualities of every player and we're quite well prepared. There's no denying Gimenez is a great player, though.”

How are the players doing physically? Will you make changes or will you do that more for Frosinone?

“I think we'll make a few changes. But not just for the Frosinone game, and not just for the importance of the match, but because I have confidence in all my players. I really do – I'm not just saying that. I don't want to make 10 or 15 changes for Frosinone because it would mess the team up too much and you'd make it very difficult for the new group playing.

“When you have lots of players playing who haven't spent much time playing together, or when you rotate heavily, the result is often poor to watch. You're not creating the right conditions for them to perform at their best.

“If we have to change, we'll change. But we'll never have 11 players coming in and 11 players going out. Unless it's a friendly perhaps.”

Do you think Angelino needs to rest and does Leo Spinazzola need to get minutes in his legs? I wanted to ask about that decision there.

“The decision will depend on several things. Angelino hasn't played much in the last few months and he's played two in a row. Spina is back now and he's in good shape. I love the fact they're so different. I love having two left-backs that are so different.

“Apart from one being left-footed and the other right-footed, apart from their build, their running, their shooting ability, they're very different and I like that.

“When you're building a team and you have players who play in the same position and can do different things, it's an advantage because every game is different. That's one position where we're well covered. They're both excellent players so it's a decision I can take with no worries.

“In any case, it's not only about their physical condition. I'd like to be able to play them both more often, although both at the same time is a bit difficult.”

Is Bryan Cristante ok to play?

“Yeah, his back is better. He always has problems a couple of times a season. It's nothing serious. He's made the trip with us and he's able to play.”

What do you think of the fact there are no Roma fans for this game?

“Not good. It's a shame. I said so before we went to Salernitana. It's a shame to play without away fans. I don't think the Feyenoord fans will be coming to Rome either, so it's a double shame.

“We've seen lots of times that away fans are capable of supporting their team and showing love. That obviously goes for the Roma fans who followed me around during my 18 years. Everywhere around Europe, and around the world.

“It's a real shame. We'll try to play for them too and bring back a result that's good for them too.”