Dybala: “We’re in good form and full of confidence”

You’ve been coached by the likes of Max Allegri, Jose Mourinho and now Daniele De Rossi. What’s different about Daniele?

“I think that Daniele is just starting out, so it’s hard to draw comparisons because the other coaches you mentioned have won so much and won so many matches at the top level in every competition. It’s difficult to compare him with the rest.

“Having seen the way he leads training every day, what he gets across to us and what he gives us because ever since he got here, there’s been a very high level of excitement, I’m sure that if he has the desire to transmit that to us every day, he has everything needed to reach the level of Allegri and Mourinho.”

What sort of form are Roma in?

“I think we’re full of confidence at the moment. We’re in good form. Obviously, winning the derby helps you prepare with a greater feeling of calmness, happiness and seriousness during the week.

“Heading into a game like this one against AC Milan is a great test for us too. It’ll show us where we are after the journey that we’ve been on since the coach took over, how we’re playing, what he asks of us and what we’re giving to him. It’ll be a great match for us to play in.”

You’ve spoken highly of De Rossi. In terms of your future, how much will the end of this season influence your choices?

“We get on very well with Daniele. Some of the choices don’t depend on me or on him. It’s down to the club. We’re very pleased with the job that he’s doing. You can all see the results from working with him, which is something we’d all like to continue doing.

“As for me, we’ll need to speak to the club, find out what its aims are, but now we just need to speak about the match and think about what how we’re doing at the moment. We’re in very good form. We have some important fixtures for our future coming up. We all know where we want to be next year and which competition we want to be playing in.”

De Rossi has said what a leader you are in the squad. How good does it feel to be so supported by the boss? How much has the human side of things impacted you?

“I think that being a leader of a team and helping your team-mates is a wonderful thing. I try to give my best on and off the pitch every day. I help the youngsters and speak to the captains. It’s fantastic and it’s a big responsibility.

“I try to improve myself every day because there’s room for improvement with each passing day. As for the coach, I knew him a bit beforehand. Everyone in Rome knows him. He knows the city and the club so well, as well as what the fans want. I don’t think there’s anyone better to get us fired up and give us that extra something for the games coming up so that we can approach them in the best possible way.”

Everyone has the image in their heads of the pictures of you after the final against Sevilla. How urgently do you feel the desire to give the fans something that will go down in history?

“Losing a final is one of the worst things that can happen to you in football. It’s actually the worst. I’ve lost plenty and I’ve won plenty too, but winning that final would’ve meant so much to me. We’d been on such a wonderful journey to get there. We headed into it in real style and went so close to winning it. It didn’t happen unfortunately.

“That group of players would’ve gone down in the club’s history for winning a trophy like that. I also lost a Champions League final and had the same feelings. Playing in two European finals and losing them is awful, but football always gives you a chance to make amends. We hope that’s the case this year.”

You’ve racked up eight goals and three assists for you under De Rossi. Is the coach’s style of play benefiting your game or is it just by chance?

“The coach gives me plenty of freedom to roam around and try to create overloads in certain parts of the pitch. Obviously, I don’t drop too deep as otherwise it would be a long way to break into the box, particularly when you face opponents that push hard down the wing at pace.

“You can see the stats for yourselves. It’s always important to me to be physically fit, play well, help my team-mates and do what the coach asks of me. His style of play has helped everyone to some extent.

"We have a squad filled with ball-playing footballers who can play one- or two-touch football, find spaces and get in behind, which I think we’ve been doing really well. This style of play helps me. Having more of the ball gives us a better chance of scoring and the stats have improved for everyone.”