Daniele De Rossi is feeling the weight of pressure as he reflects on his team’s struggles, yet he tries to maintain a sense of optimism. “I’m sad, but I will be less sad tomorrow. I know I can count on a fantastic group,” he stated. However, the reality is that the crisis has already taken root, evidenced by the whistles echoing through the Olimpico, a stadium that has usually been forgiving. The statistics tell a troubling story: just one win since April 22 and only one point earned against Cagliari and Empoli.
De Rossi is not looking for excuses. “I’m paid to manage the squad I have at my disposal. There’s a week to make some changes. The market can shift quickly, but the team I have now is capable of winning against Empoli and Cagliari. I need to work better with the players available. If I can win, I must win,” he asserted. He recognizes that the season is long and many teams are struggling to find their rhythm. “Could we have won with this squad against Empoli? Absolutely yes,” he confirmed.
When asked about what went wrong, De Rossi identified a lack of energy and intensity. “In the first half, we moved the ball too slowly and often fell back into our own half,” he admitted. Yet, he noted a positive reaction from his players after going a goal down, praising their efforts. “Sometimes you don’t make a foul because you win the duel, which is the goal. The players showed great effort and reacted well.”
He was quick to downplay specific criticisms about individual players. “Dybala? I’m not satisfied with anyone’s performance. This isn’t just about one or two players. They can do better. We should have and could have won. We needed to improve both individually and as a team. Dovbyk needs to be found in space without pressure in the box; otherwise, it’s hard for him to find the right positions.”
De Rossi did express his frustration regarding the fans’ whistles, particularly directed at Zalewski. “I think it’s wrong to boo players; they need support. Even Zalewski felt it when he came on. I know this city, and if things aren’t going well, players will be booed—and me too. He works hard and has the motor we need. He has great potential, but he must be helped, not booed.”
Looking to the future, De Rossi touched on the transfer market. “We’re in a good position in terms of numbers. We have a sizable squad. We’ll see what happens; all coaches need something. We had clear ideas before, and now we need to reset and clarify our vision again. I don’t need a ‘physical’ midfielder; the coach must transform players. A physical player can’t easily be made faster. I like technical players, but I’m increasingly drawn to physical ones, as the game is heading in that direction,” he remarked, hinting that this might relate to the interest in players like Koné.