Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi spoke to Sky Sport before the start of the Giallorossi’s league match against Parma. Here’s what he had to say:
How is the team after conceding a last-minute goal in the Europa League?
There is still so much bitterness. We had a great match, especially a great second half. Unfortunately, we conceded a goal that penalised the team. Things were tight when they were level, but this should make us think about putting forth something extra and always being careful until the end. From this point of view, something must still be done and we must grow.
Pastore starts again: what has caused him to be reborn?
I think a lot of credit goes to Fonseca: how he managed him and how he worked. The manager always treated him well and so has the club. When he told us that he wanted to stay, we responded to him: ‘OK, when you get your chance, you’ll have to try and give the contribution that we all expect for a player of your quality plus one who earns as much as you. A player who earns a lot of money must have the ability to know how to bear the cross of how much is expected from them’.
I believe that Pastore is a rediscovered player, now he must continue and he must not stop.
What struck you about Fonseca?
I followed one of his strikers when I was at Torino, Ferreira. I had watched three consecutive Shakhtar matches and I saw a manager who almost always played the same way: aggressive, compact while playing vertically. He intrigued me so I followed him. We started thinking bout him after that infamous meeting took place: he struck me because he brought his iPad and showed me how he developed his playing style and what his principles were. I also think he liked the club after meeting Pallotta and everyone else here. Everyone can see he’s a professional and respectable guy.
