Daniele De Rossi he spoke at the end of the match won on‘Udinese to the microphones of Sky Sports and at the press conference. His words:
How did the study of this match come about?
“A mix of tactics, on the side where Spinazzola played we had found space, there Evan played who had less push, we put a pushing player, the rest was more logical than tactical, I kept as many players as possible on the pitch who could score individually, I removed top players like Paredes and put in people like Cristante, Pellegrini. I put Angelino in for crosses.”
A different celebration.
“I’m ashamed, everyone makes fun of me (laughs, ed.). I’m really happy, apart from the ranking, it was important in terms of morale, we were down after the defeat against Bologna. I’m happy for the players, they behaved fantastically, there are people who came here sure they wouldn’t play and celebrated, I had already notified the five possible substitutes. There was an incredible participation, something that touched me as a player and does as a coach. Then there was controversy over when we should have played again. We’re sorry to have won in a stadium that treated us so well. We were the first team in the history of Italian football to play a semi-final against an undefeated team who were given one less day to prepare. We will go to Naples with one day less, but the players’ responses make me feel calm, we have a team of wonderful men.”
Does this victory change anything in your preparation for Naples?
“The mood and the standings change, but we have already started studying Napoli, we didn’t have to prepare much here in Udine. Last year Napoli killed the championship, they have very strong individuals. We prepare it like the others, hoping that I get more moves right than Roma-Bologna, it will be a match with a high technical level.”
29 points like Mourinho, in 13 games against 20.
“I look at everything except the chase or the race to see who scores the most points. It is clear that we are doing very well, even if someone forgets. We reopened a discussion that seemed closed, not so much because of the points to recover on fourth place, but because of how many teams we had ahead of us. The boys are doing an incredible job, I don’t think that if the coach (Mourinho, ed.) had remained they would not have recovered because it starts from them and because they are players with a huge heart and those who have a huge heart have the pride of the champions who shoot out of those situations. They would have pulled their heads out even without me.”
De Rossi at the press conference
Is the desire to win in El Shaarawy’s entrance?
“I talked to the guys, I said jokingly that I had no idea what I had to do, I had never prepared twenty minutes of a race. I knew that probably playing with so many attackers, maybe after just a minute I had to make changes to give more balance or maybe someone had to warm up so as not to even play, but there was application from all the boys. I put Stephan because he was more offensive, but I waited, because last time Udinese were a bit tired especially on the flanks, but today they were lively. Then it went well on the final corner and it’s not like Stephan participated much (laughs)”.
A great celebration for an important victory.
“I’m usually more composed, in fact I’m sorry to celebrate like this in Udine, a club that has always been very friendly and has behaved well, nothing against them. But the goal was important in an important match, a demonstration of a strong team, we often went towards the goal, a team that wants something goes and gets it and sometimes luck repays it.”
Angelino’s choice?
“I put Angelino there for some crosses, I had thought of an even more offensive match but then Udinese’s physical preparation intimidated us a bit. These are three very important points, then our frustration came from something else, we felt we had the right to ask for help in view of the match against Bayer Leverkusen, it seems like a unique precedent to me that an Italian team is not helped in this sense, then sometimes football gives succulent gifts. Now we will prepare for another difficult match, it will be a totally different match from today but we will be ready.”
A judgment on Cannavaro?
“I think he can give a lot, he is a former player and a coach with an above-average intelligence. We clashed last year in a 90′ match, he put us in big trouble. I have already glimpsed what he can do, I think he is the right person to get Udinese out of this situation, but underneath there are people like Nicola who I would never wish to go to Serie B, I like Udinese, the trip is a bit uncomfortable (laughs, ed.), but you will be safe”.
Did you say anything to each other before the match when you said goodbye?
“I usually never greet my opponent, but today everything was different, Pairetto wanted to meet us all before the match to clarify the rules of this recovery and all those unusual details again. Afterwards we were alone for about twenty minutes talking, Pinzi, my close friend, Paolo, with whom I shared the Under 21s as a roommate, was also there. I didn’t say anything to him after the race because I imagine the opposite state of mind.”
De Rossi at DAZN
The final scream?
“It’s an adrenaline-filled joy, a rush of happiness for three important points, the team did what we had to do. I liked that we had 3-4 shots on target, that we tried to win until the end, I’m more and more in love with these players. We are happy for the three very important points in a particular match, there were discussions, then football gives great gifts.”
Did you prepare it like this?
“Yes, it was only 20 minutes, I think it was clear to everyone that last time the ending would have been similar to this with us attacking, we wanted to recreate that atmosphere there, with us wanting to score and them trying to they would be defended. I liked that we had 3-4 shots on target, then this final prize arrived which makes us happy.”
You entered the warm-up very early.
“I told the boys that I didn’t know what to do (laughs, ed.). I could have made some bizarre choices for a bizarre match, I spoke with my staff and we immediately raised the pace in the warm-up, we prepared a classic warm-up and we were already ready. I wouldn’t hear it said that we were hotter than them, but we were better than them even if Udinese were in the match.”
Lots of commitments in the next few days, but you have your destiny in your hands.
“It’s important, we have difficult matches like Atalanta, they have the Italian Cup final and unfortunately they will recover the match against Fiorentina when the leading people will already be at sea and this is strange, it’s a shame. It’s a tense, difficult final, that’s why we stiffened in playing today, the real damage is towards Leverkusen, an undefeated team that will have one more day to prepare for a match that is already difficult for us in itself, it’s something that has never happened in Italy. Roma have shown that they are a strong group, now let’s think about Napoli who are a team that killed the championship last year, they have the strongest squad together with Inter, we respect them and we will play a great match with the strengths we have , we will try to do our best.”
Smalling?
“These are not very negative feelings, if he asked for a change it could be an injury lasting a few days, it adds to the absence of Llorente for Napoli (he is disqualified, ed.), we hope to recover him as soon as possible”.
Cannavaro?
“It has an incredible effect on me, we also met last year, we really love each other. I would have liked to meet him next Sunday on the benches of our city, but I’m happy that he has this opportunity. Having won in a stadium that treated us so well makes me feel a little sad, I think Cannavaro has what it takes to save Udinese, I’m sorry to wish them well when Di Francesco’s Frosinone is there, the Empoli by Nicola whom I respect a lot, but I love Fabio very much.”
