Former Fiorentina and Italy coach Cesare Prandelli spoke about Daniele De Rossi’s ascent as Roma’s head coach.
Prandelli – who worked with Daniele De Rossi during their days with the Italian national team between 2010 and 2014 – spoke fondly of the Roma legend in a recent interview with Il Messaggero released on the eve of Fiorentina-Roma.
“It wasn’t too difficult to predict that De Rossi would go on to become a coach. When you find a footballer who wants to understand, asks questions about technical-tactical situations, you immediately understand that he has something more to give in his career.”
“It is not typical to find a player so mature with natural leadership skills but at the same time the curiosity to learn and have as much information as possible.”
“What surprised me the most is the fact that he respected the characteristics of the players, positioning them in the roles where they perform best. Then it’s clear, when you take over you have to increase the self-esteem of the locker room. When there is an exemption, the players must be made responsible. Daniele’s skill was also that of reuniting the team spirit, the sense of belonging: you are Roma and you must know what you represent.”
“As a player, De Rossi was also very meticulous. He was the one who built the action and as such he saw the game from 360°. He always comes back to the issue of valuing individuality. Probably in his career, however important, he was not valued as much as he could have been. Because he was born as a midfielder, then they transformed him into an enforcer, with more tasks of disrupting the opponent’s play.”
“But even then, Daniele, when he had the ball, liked to build from the back. And players like him think, a lot. In the national team when I played with three at the back, I positioned him between the two central defenders because I was convinced that he also had the intelligence to make the team move better.”
“I think overall, De Rossi is the right person in the right place, at the right time,” he added.
“Fiorentina-Roma? Sunday will be a wonderful challenge. Even at Franchi Daniele will have to have the same courage he had with Brighton. But I have no doubt that he will have it.”