Roma manager Daniele De Rossi spoke to the media at the end of Saturday’s friendly with Everton.
The Italian technician summed up the team’s preseason and hinted at the next moves on the market.
“I am happy with how we worked, both in England and in Trigoria, always very intensely. The new arrivals will help us complete the team, which was already strong and comes from a good season, from what I was able to evaluate in the second part of the season. The squad needed to be strengthened, we need players of the same quality as the starting players. And this is happening.”
“I’m happy, I’m happy with the new players, the older ones, everyone, they worked hard, we asked of them to make an important effort between Trigoria and St. George’s Park and we’re happy with what they’ve shown.”
“More signings? What is certain is that today there are too many players, at St. George’s Park I had 31 players at my disposal. There are players who will leave us and go to play elsewhere. situations to be evaluated, as in the other Serie A teams. With 31 players we can’t work well, let’s see if anyone will leave and then we’ll put our attention back on who will have to come in instead.”
“Dovbyk? He gives us depth, which is what we need and what I always ask for, because if there isn’t someone who extends the opposing team, the ball possession and the construction from below that we do becomes a readable point of reference. We must be ready to always play, but also to go deep and surprise the opponent.”
“Dybala? I don’t work based on rumors, I leave those to others. There is nothing that influenced my choices. Against Everton I put the team I wanted to see on the pitch: we are starting to get closer to the league start and we must be more and more similar to what we should be. I did some experiments like in other games. Those who were in England are all Roma players, then we’ll see what happens. Not just for Dybala, but for everyone. When I was asked if there was anyone to be tied here hand and foot I said no, there wasn’t. Anyone who wants to leave is free to do so.”
“Can Dybala and Soule play together? They can do it in the 4-2-3-1, with Paulo as a false nine, but also with the two forwards, in the 4-3-2-1. They can play together in a thousand ways, just like the others. And everyone can be on the bench. The important thing is that when they come in they do it well and lend a hand, giving added value to the team.”
“Baldanzi? Tommaso is a player that I like a lot, he has quality, pace and intensity. When he plays on the wing sometimes he lacks a bit of pace to attack the way I like him to. Instead, in the midst he is unpredictable, active, always dangerous. In my opinion he is growing a lot and soon he will also become decisive in the final third which is perhaps the last thing missing for him to become a very strong player. Midfielder, winger, attacking midfielder: he is too intelligent, has quality, always lively and lively. I like it a lot.”
“How many more signings are needed? We have to see. The players are there, we will see the opportunities that the market presents to us. If someone leaves or wants to leave and if we decide that it will be better to include someone else, we will do so, as has happened so far.”
“However, saying that someone is missing is not respectful towards those who are there. It’s obvious that someone already knows that he will leave or go on loan. There are situations that we have been carrying with us for years, people will go to play elsewhere because they deserve the space that I cannot give them. Let’s see what will happen in these two weeks. But if someone leaves we will bring in strong players, I’m sure of it.”
