From the initial transfer market frustrations that saw the Giallorossi chase Jonathan David and Federico Chiesa in vain to the surprising, big-money acquisitions of Matías Soulé and Artem Dovbyk to this week’s Paulo Dybala controversy—where a certain section of fans scapegoated De Rossi himself—Daniele De Rossi has experienced the entire Roma manager emotional spectrum in the span of a month, six weeks, tops.
Given that tumult, one couldn’t fault De Rossi for being distracted as he prepared for the first opening day of his managerial career. This week’s opponents, Cagliari, may be the most difficult squad name to pronounce, but the Sardinia-based club narrowly avoided relegation last season, avoiding the drop by a solitary point. But with precious few reinforcements signed this summer, Cagliari figures to be cast in that same lot this season.
Dybala controversies aside, Roma has ample firepower to overwhelm Cagliari, so let’s pick apart De Rossi’s first presser of the season before offering a mini-preview of Sunday’s action.
And we might as well start with the topic of the day—Paulo Dybala
De Rossi on whether or not Dybala will play:
“There are no unavailable players. Paredes is suspended; he will play with the Primavera because he needs minutes and he needs to play, having arrived later. We are happy to have the support of the youth sector; he will play X amount of minutes that we have already decided.
“Dybala? We have heard something; there has been a little talk about it. Paulo is with us; many other players have market situations. He comes with us, he has been called up, there are no problems.”
On how De Rossi the coach vs. De Rossi the fan processes Dybala’s potential departure:
“You can’t ask me to be a fan, I will always be one but now I can’t do it. The message is always the same: to deal delicately with topics that are vital for a fan. If you talk to my mother about the transfer of a player she says ‘ok that’s fine’. If you talk about it with a fan think about unforgettable and bad moments or how much he bonded with a player…
“Tomorrow Paulo will explain what will happen. He is a strong player, I’ve always said so and he remains a strong player. What I had to say I said to him and to the club. I spoke to those who wanted to leave, those who don’t play much or those who wanted reassurance. I have a good relationship with everyone and I always say things to their faces.
“So far it’s working as far as the human relationship is concerned. I told the club, but no one is more important than Roma. My words were distorted last time. I have no interest, second interest, obligation to remain silent. I just want a strong team, that’s what saves me.
“A strong team and good results. That’s all I want. If someone wants to throw it on other topics I don’t have to answer. I’m here for my career as a coach and to do well for Roma. One day when I leave Roma, I want to leave it stronger and in a better position in the league table than when I took it over.”
Jenky translations aside, while De Rossi didn’t exactly answer this question with complete candor, he is nevertheless uniquely positioned to answer it. During the peak of his powers, De Rossi was linked with moves to several Premiership clubs, most notably Chelsea, so he can certainly relate to what Dybala is going through. At the same time, as an unabashed fan of the club, De Rossi also understands the fans’ helpless plight in these scenarios, how easy it is to get emotionally invested in a player, and how that leads to feelings of betrayal once their heroes are sold.
De Rossi would later explain how he handles social media’s slings and arrows in the face of these controversies: He hopes to be loved but tries to ignore those “behind the keyboard.” However, a few things become clear if we read between the lines. He’s discreet enough to handle the question with kid gloves but didn’t waffle on one key issue: no one is more important than Roma. Later in the same interview, De Rossi pointed out how Napoli still managed to win a title after jettisoning key players like Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne, and Kalidou Koulibaly.
Taken together, these quotes suggest that De Rossi, while fully appreciating the emotional toll losing Dybala will have on the fanbase—which, in turn, will lead to grief to his doorstep—isn’t prepared to throw in the towel simply because Dybala moves on. This not only suggests faith in his abilities as a manager but also a strong belief that the club’s new additions (and new roles for incumbent players) will enable the club to compete at a high level.
Speaking of which, De Rossi also touched on his expectations for Soulé and Dovbyk:
Soule:
“The key to the player’s danger is what he did last year. Sometimes you just think that he played in a team that was then relegated and maybe they expected a 40-goal player.
“In 5/6 statistics that we like as coaches who become nerds and look at the individual data, in the under 23s he is one of the first in dribbles made, assists, key passes, through passes. We have to be good at putting him at ease, but all the others have settled in well and are ready. Also a mention for those who had little space last year. They too are training well and are keeping the team’s level high.”
Dovbyk:
Dovbyk’s characteristics are not so far from Romelu’s. He has a different career behind him, but we didn’t get a false 9, someone who varies in attack. We got a finisher who attacks space very well, very fast, strong, quite clean in his controls, decisive in the area and he has shown it in the last two championships.
The instructions are those and then we change something from game to game. We are trying not to give him too many instructions because in the first part I realised that I was telling the new players too many things and we have reduced the number of instructions also because they are all very intelligent.
While these quotes only scratch the surface, it’s clear that the Soulé and Dovbyk signings weren’t made in a vacuum; they have complementary skill sets and approaches that should allow De Rossi and Roma to play a more direct, attacking style of play. And by keeping the instructions and adjustments to a minimum early in their tenure, De Rossi ensures a smoother transition for his two big-ticket purchases.
De Rossi wrapped up his presser by reminding the audience that, despite the delicate atmosphere surrounding Roma right now, the club’s focus must be on Cagliari and Cagliari alone. In last season’s fixtures, both played while José Mourinho was still managing, Roma wiped the floor with the Sardinians, outscoring the Islanders 8-1.
Whether or not Dybala plays tomorrow, repeating those results should quiet the noise in the capital… at least for a day.
Match Details
Date: August 18th
Kickoff: 20:45 CET/2:45 EDT
Venue: Sardegna Arena, Cagliari
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