The words of the Giallorossi coach: “I said jokingly that I had no idea what I had to do. Then it went well on the final corner”
April 25, 2024 (modified April 25, 2024 | 10:24 pm)
Daniel de Rossi spoke at the press conference at the end of the match againstUdinese. These are his words:
DE ROSSI AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE
Is the desire to win in El Shaarawy’s entrance? “I spoke to the boys, I said jokingly that I had no idea what I had to do, I had never prepared twenty minutes of a match. I knew that probably playing with many attackers, perhaps after just one minute I would have to make changes to give more balance or maybe someone he had to warm up so as not to just play recovery. Everyone was ready and available, even those who knew they weren’t playing. I liked this experience because of how it ended. I put Stephan on because he was more offensive, but starting from the start scared me. because last time Udinese were a bit tired especially on the flanks, but today they started again and their physicality is important. Then it went well, a corner, it’s not that Stephan didn’t participate much.”
Is it a huge success after the defeat against Bologna? “Very important success. I’m usually more composed, in fact I’m sorry to have celebrated like that in Udine, this square has always been very friendly, nothing against them, in fact we thanked them for everything that happened. But the goal was important for the standings and for the morale, for how we had prepared the match, a strong team that didn’t just take a corner but shot on goal several times Sometimes it’s rewarded with a bit of luck.”
It was a victory born of courage. What can it give us? “The team was offensive but also balanced. I put Angeliño because of his quality in crosses. We had thought it even more offensive then we became afraid of Udinese’s physical condition. A shot of adrenaline like this has double value but that’s where we stop. Three very important points but our frustration came from elsewhere. We have difficult matches and we felt we had the duty and the right to ask for help for the match against Leverkusen and we were denied and it bothered us quite a bit. Playing against the Bundesliga champions, with one less day of rest, they are an undefeated team. I believe it is a unique precedent in Italy that a team is not helped in this sense. Maybe it moved something in us, then karma comes back with succulent gifts sometimes. We will prepare for the match against Napoli with two days to spare, facing a team that has perhaps been in training camp for a week. Few alibis, we will be ready like today even if they are two completely different things. We will be up to the task.”
What can Cannavaro give to this team? “I think he can give a lot. He is a former player and now a coach with above average intelligence. I saw him very excited, we clashed last year in 90 minutes and he put me in big trouble. I’ve seen what he can do. I think he is the right person to get Udinese out of this situation. I like Fabio and Udinese, the stadium is beautiful, maybe the away trip is a little uncomfortable but I would be happy if you were saved.”
What was it like meeting Cannavaro before the match? “I usually never greet the opponent before the match. I never go out to watch the warm-ups but today was different. Pairetto wanted to meet us to clarify all the details of the match again. All that data that is not usual. After we spoke with him, Fabio and I also chatted for 20 minutes with Pinzi and his brother Paolo who was my roommate in the Under 21s. It’s a staff I’m happy to see. After the match I didn’t say anything to him because his state of mind was the opposite of mine. I hugged him and left.”
It was a strange match. What was in that scream? “A strange joy, it was a rush of happiness because they were important points. And I saw my team do what we set out to do. I liked the fact that we had three or four shots on target and went looking for victory until the end even risking conceding something. I’m more and more in love with these players. I am happy for these three very important points. The path to get to this match was particular. When it was put, the discussions, karma sometimes gives gifts.”
Roma took a bite out of the match. Did you prepare it like this? “Yes because we knew it was only 20 minutes. I think it was clear that that match was on track with this one: us attacking and them defending as it should be. The first thing I asked was to recreate that atmosphere. We are the ones who have to go and score goals and they who rightly tried to defend themselves. They were good, we interpreted the match well, shot on goal, it wasn’t easy at Udinese. This makes me very happy.”
We have seen two different methods of heating. “I went to the guys and told them I have no idea what we were supposed to do. It was a bizarre match and according to my staff it would have been the best thing to immediately turn up the heat and play a little match like yesterday. I thought it was a brilliant idea. We first did a classic warm-up then we got dressed and played a practice match. But we scored in the 97th minute, I don’t feel like saying we were hotter. We did well because we entered the match straight away but Udinese, who did a different warm-up, were also inside the match and were prepared.
Now there are many commitments but you have your destiny in your hands. “We have many difficult matches and there is the semi-final. Atalanta also has the final of the Italian Cup, unfortunately they will recover the match against Fiorentina when the leading people are at the seaside. This is unfortunate and strange. It’s a difficult final, which is why we’ve become rigid about playing today, the real damage will be against Bayer. They are undefeated and will prepare for the match with an extra day of rest which is something that has never happened in Italy. Now we will prepare for the match against Napoli who have been in training camp for a week and who are a very strong team, I consider them the strongest squad of all together with Inter. We’ll go and play a match with the strength we have, then the Europa League. We will try to do our best like today.”
How is Smalling? “Not negative feelings, but if he asked for a change it could not be a very long injury but a few days. Diego won’t be there in Naples either, I hope to get him back as soon as possible.”
What effect does it have to see Cannavaro on the bench in Serie A? “He has an incredible effect on me, last year he beat me but we love each other. I respect him so much, I would have liked to meet him next Sunday on the benches of our city but I am happy with this opportunity because Udinese is a great club and I wish them the best. I’m sorry to have won and celebrated like this in this stadium but it was a great joy. They have all it takes to save themselves. It’s a shame to wish them well for their survival and not so much for someone else because there’s also Di Francesco’s Frosinone and Nicola’s Empoli with whom I have a good relationship. It will be an incredible fight.”
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