De Rossi: “We want to give the fans another happy night”

Read on to find out what he had to say...

What do you make of Brighton and what can you tell us about your special relationship with Roberto De Zerbi?

“It’s true, I have a brilliant relationship with Roberto, going back to my playing days. He was taking his first steps into coaching and we would chat after games. I would tell him how much I admired him for the type of football that he was showcasing at Benevento and Palermo. It turns out we were speaking about his present and what would turn out to be my future.

“Roberto has absolutely brilliant footballing ideas. He’s a different type of coach with an innovative streak. It’s not just him. Brighton have some top players. They’ve made some really good signings and I’m expecting a tough game."

It’s the fiftieth sell-out since the Friedkins have been in charge. Can the Stadio Olimpico give you that extra push?

“We’re the ones that need to try to give the fans another happy night rather than them trying to help us win the match. The connection between us will be so important. I think it’s wonderful for any player to come here and play in this setting and in this atmosphere, including for foreign players. I also think that Brighton are used to playing in huge, fantastic stadiums with intimidating atmospheres, given that the Premier League is always full of passion. Maybe they’ll experience an even more intense and passionate atmosphere here.”

What do you think Brighton’s current position of ninth in the table is equivalent to in Serie A? Do you plan to play with a back three or four?

“It’s not easy to compare with their ninth place to gauge what position they would be in in Italy. They’re certainly an up-and-coming club that doesn’t have decades of history behind them.

“I think [Graham] Potter did a great job of building something initially and Roberto is now making them more recognisable all over the world. I think he’s building a real brand and that’s something he carries with him.

“As for saying whether they’d be ninth, eighth or tenth in Italy, we don’t just know. Bologna are fourth in Italy right now and they’re in a fairly similar situation to Brighton, although there’s more history behind the club.”

Could Brighton be like Bologna?

“Well, I think Roberto has created something similar to when he was the Sassuolo coach and they had some wonderful seasons. It’s not easy to reach that level, as we can see this year.

“I do think it’s something similar, but you can also replicate that if you have a coach with fantastic ideas as well as a club that can invest in so the squad and spend big money on plenty of wonderful, young players.”

What about a back three or four?

“I’m not telling you.”

Do Roma need to be more instinctive or rational in their approach tomorrow? Will you need to play on the front foot or will you need to bide your time?

“You seem to make a distinction between instinct and reasoning in line with an attacking or defensive team. You can be instinctive while staying deep and defending in a slightly confused, aggressive and messy way. You can also be rational in your play by forcing the opposition to defend in their half of the pitch. I don’t see a direct correlation between those two words.

“I think that we are a strong side and we need to respect Brighton as well as the way they play, but this is about Roma. We are Roma and I think we’re all in for a great game.

“The first thing we need to know is that sometimes Brighton force the opposition to play in their own half for three or four minutes, including the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea. Those are the games that we have done our research on. Sometimes they take a beating as well, as we’ve seen against Luton, Aston Villa and Fulham.

“There will be many games within this game. We’ll need to play them all and win them, both when we are in possession, which I hope will be for as long as possible, as well as when we’re up against a team that knows how to keep the ball well. They’ve been doing that for the last 18 months and they do so on a weekly basis against very strong opposition.

“They may well get through our press a few times and be on top for a few minutes at some stage.”

Could the ranking situation provide extra motivation? Do you speak about fifth place in the dressing room as a possible gateway to the Champions League next season?

“We take to the pitch to win and to get through to the next round. We may have a different outlook on fellow Italian teams playing in Europe, given that their success could have a special element to it as it could get Italy closer to having fifth in the league as a Champions League place. We would still then need to get up to fifth or fourth.

“We’re looking at the ranking situation the right amount, just like the sort of story that they tell about how if you are well-behaved, you might get a present at Christmas.

“The only thing we can try to do is win games. It doesn’t change anything for us. If another Italian is successful in Europe, besides the rivalry between fan bases, it could be something that brings us an advantage in the future.”

You’ve been in this job for 50 days now. Were you expecting anything more or anything less?

“I expected three more points in the league! It would’ve been perfect if we’d beaten Inter as well, as that’s what the project was all about!

“I’m pleased and also all too aware that we haven’t achieved anything yet. Nobody knows this city better than me. Italian football in general – and especially this city – could change its opinion in a nanosecond if things were to take a turn for the worse.

“That’s why I always try to keep the lads’ heads focused on Trigoria and away from social media and the press, etc. You can become a great very quickly and become a nobody in the same amount of time.

“I am, however, happy with what I’ve created with the players. The bond was already there in some ways, but creating it as the coach is similar to recreating it. You get to represent the same people but in a different role. Recreating a wonderful bond is never an automatic process.

“[Gianluca] Mancini said earlier that they are understanding what I’m asking of them. Having watched back yesterday’s training session this morning, I’d say it’s not just a matter of understanding but about believing and I do think they are believing.

“I’m not asking them to do difficult, brilliant or special things, but they’re clearly showing – and this goes for in training as well – that they fully believe in what I’m saying to them and they’re also enjoying it. That’s what makes me feel the happiest, besides the points, which don’t always go hand-in-hand with the human relations that you build, with the development and a methodology that the players like and our performances.

“We’ve had a bit of everything so far, but unfortunately, we know that we haven’t accomplished anything yet because we have two fiery months ahead of us.”

Is there a chance we’ll see Rick Karsdorp tomorrow, even on the bench? We’ve seen how you’ve rotated in Europe between Leonardo Spinazzola and Angelino. Is that something you’ve done your research on or is it a tactical requirement?

“We’ll see how Karsdorp feels today to determine whether he can be in the squad or not. He’s had days where he’s felt really good and others where he’s felt less good. We’ll see what the situation is later on.

“As for the two left-backs, it’s a strange thing because they’re both players who I’m crazy about. I really like them both for their qualities, character and the level that they’re at. They are both top players and they’re also so different from each other, so sometimes the choice could be determined by the opposition and the way we want to play. Sometimes, it’s purely a matter of rotation. On other occasions, I choose the player I like more or the one I feel is in better form.

“There’s no pre-determined strategy. Touch wood they both stay fit and I can have them both fully at my disposal.”

Have you considered a role for Edoardo Bove away from the midfield three? Maybe out wide with specific instructions because he certainly isn’t a winger.

“Before the Monza game, I read that Edoardo had an average playing time of 61 minutes per game under [Jose] Mourinho and it’s 59 with me, so it’s certainly not a big difference.

“Obviously, he hasn’t started much compared with what had been happening in the final period under the previous coach.

“He was probably the best player on the pitch in my first Serie A game here. He put in a wonderful performance against Verona and I have total faith in him.

“He may have fewer chances to start because he’s currently alongside players who are playing really well, like Bryan [Cristante], Leandro [Paredes] and Lorenzo [Pellegrini].

“I can’t see him playing out wide because I’d want to have much more attacking players than him in those positions.

“In the not-too-distant future, I feel he could be a good holding midfielder sitting in front of the defence because he’s technically much better than the public opinion makes him out to be.

“He just needs to keep working hard, which is what we’re all doing. We often stay behind after training. He needs to work on his timing and the reading of situations.

“His level of fitness allows him to cover so much ground. He’s good with his feet and just needs to put his technical ability into the way we play. He needs to understand when to take two touches, when to take three, when to drive forward, when to take one touch. It takes time to get these things right. I was a thinker when I stopped playing, having started out by steaming from box to box for the full 90 minutes.

“He can get there. It’s a journey and I hope that nobody hurries him and he stays level-headed because as a human being, he’s the sort of guy you’d want your daughter to marry. He’s a professional, he’s a team player and a wonderful footballer. His conduct is exemplary. When he win, he’s always the smiliest even if, as you said, he’s had less playing time. I couldn’t be happier with him.

“I think that as part of his development during his time at Roma, it’s OK to be the first reserve in midfield. It’s certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.

“In terms of improvement, I was talking about Paredes just the other day. In some ways I can talk about him and in others I can talk about [Paulo] Dybala and [Romelu] Lukaku. Based on what I ask of Bove, he does need to improve in certain areas, but it’s not like he is far behind and needs to take a huge step forward.

“Whenever he comes on, he always gives his all and plays well. He’s a player I can fully rely on. Under two weeks ago, he started in Rotterdam and performed brilliantly.”

Roma have 16 players who have played in European finals. How big a factor is that experience? And do you think the gap with the Premier League has been reduced?

“I'd need to watch more Premier League matches and become more familiar with it to comment on the differences with Serie A. I think Italy is on the up again after many years when the Premier League was way out in front. It probably still is in terms of revenue, etc.

“When a team is not used to playing on the big stage and when you have very young players with not much experience of playing in European knockout games – and for many of them this will be their first time – it can have an effect on you, but when that happens you focus on your football, on doing the things you know how to do, on your shape as a team, on the fact that you know where your team-mate is and where you need to move to. And they know how to do those things very well.

“So what little gap there may be in terms of experience is reduced by the knowledge they have. We'll have to use our own knowledge, our intensity, our strength, and show that not just because of our experience but also because we have incredible players – who are probably a notch above theirs – we can come out on top.

“We can't expect them to be afraid of the stadium or think that they're not used to playing games like this, that they'll hand us victory on a plate. They might feel a bit of emotion but they know how to control the ball and where to put it; they know where their team-mates are and what to do on the pitch. It's going to be a tough match.”

You made your Roma debut in the Champions League [against Anderlecht] and you scored your last goal for Roma in the Champions League against Porto. Now you're tasked with taking Roma into the Champions League again. Have you ever thought that your football destiny is tied to the Champions League?

“I made a joke before the game against Torino when I said that I was on the pitch the last time Roma played in the Champions League and it feels like I retired 20 years ago!

“Roma haven't been back in the competition since then and that's unacceptable because Roma should be playing at that level, especially since the club is in a better place now than it was when I left, in terms of investment, players, and probably the wage bill too.

“But regardless of the wage bill and the big names, Roma should always be there or thereabouts. And once Roma get into the Champions League, they'll do what they've always done: reach the last 16, the quarter-finals, and once were very close to the final.”

“With the players we have here, Roma can compete for the top four regardless of who the coach is. With the quality we have in this team, Roma should not be finishing lower than fourth.”