Pellegrini: “What’s always true is that I love Roma. I will never give it less than my all”

Ecco cosa hanno detto i nostri giocatori!

Here’s what our players had to say!

Pellegrini

What did you feel when you celebrated your goal?

“A lot. I was a bit moved after scoring that goal because he [Mancini] knows, but maybe not everyone knows this: ever since I got injured, people close to me have known how much I wanted to play from minute one again and win this derby for our fans. I owe a lot to my family and he [Mancini] is part of my family, as well as to all the people who support me, love me and have been there for me throughout this tough period of challenges as well as of hard work.”

Five minutes before you scored, fans suddenly pulled out a banner that read “welcome back captain”: to them you are still the team captain. There are many people there who love you.

“Yes, but I already knew this and I’ve never questioned it. I love them. Anyway, I believe that this team can still improve because it has many players with great personalities who care deeply about the club. I am proud to have been one of Roma’s team captains and to have contributed to this, that I can share this passion that keeps Roma going, our fans’ passion, those who come, those who leave and maybe those who don’t know where they are yet. And he’s part of this. He’s not my team-mate: he’s more of a brother maybe, a brother with different blood but nevertheless a brother, a great one.”

Did you ever consider leaving Roma this past summer? 

“I think that, apart from all the considerations one may make or words they may say, something is always true. What’s always true is that I love Roma and that ever since I came here and as long as I wear this shirt, I will never give it less than my all.

“I don’t know what will happen in the future because life is unpredictable. Just look at what happened: I was about to maybe leave and no one knew how I was going to recover from the injury. And today I was in the starting line-up in a derby and I scored the winning goal. So football is unpredictable, that’s why it’s beautiful. I will experience this to the fullest as long as I wear the shirt I love.”

Four goals in the derby, four wins, but all in front of the Curva Nord. Now there’s the other end of the pitch left…

“Those who love me know that I miss scoring there. I’d like to keep running and celebrate with our fans. But jokes aside, I’m happy to score in front of the Curva Sud, the Curva Nord, even in front of the Tribuna Tevere section if they put a goalpost there.”

Mancini

Gianluca, is it true that you can still be team captain even without the armband?

“Of course, but this has always been a part of our dressing room, at least ever since Bryan [Cristante], Stephan [El Shaarawy] have been playing for Roma. I’m referring to all the older players in the dressing room. We feel important: having a team with many leaders is a great thing.

“Lorenzo [Pellegrini], Bryan [Cristante] and I, as I’ve said, try to help out the new players, because this is probably the fifteenth time we’ve played this match, but every derby is always extremely stressful. It’s an important match in Rome, and those who aren’t from here may not understand this. We try to help them understand, but as soon as you get on the pitch to warm up, you realise what the derby is all about. So we’re happy about this win.”