Having finished behind Juventus for the past two years, “Roma are naturally the Bianconeri’s main challengers” ahead of the upcoming season. That is the view of Daniele De Rossi, who spoke in a press conference at the Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini today to present the new partnership between AS Roma and satellite television platform Sky.
The Giallorossi and Italy midfielder, in response to questions from leading Sky commentator Fabio Caressa, said he is convinced the Giallorossi squad is already strong and doesn’t need major work in the transfer market, just a few targeted signings.
Here is what Daniele had to say:
There have been a lot of changes during the transfer windows in recent years. This year though your squad seems more stable.
“Yes, the team is pretty much the same as last year’s. The club is signing players to fill a specific need. When you finish second two seasons in a row, it shows you don’t need to make wholesale changes and the fact we haven’t changed too much is a positive. We have a strong side, our key players have stayed at the club and this will also help us to push on, as we already know each other and therefore have a greater understanding.”
Who starts as favorites in this season’s Serie A?
“Juventus seemed weaker last season in terms of their squad and for many – myself not included – the coach. Then they enjoyed a better season than in previous years, winning a fourth straight Scudetto and making the Champions League final. When a team achieves results like these, they rightly start as favorites. Similarly, a side that finishes runners-up two seasons in a row are naturally considered the chief challengers. The two Milan clubs have strengthened a great deal and Lazio will also be a threat again. As for Napoli, I’m a fan of Sarri. He’s joined from a small club but he’s never done a bad job throughout his career and has never betrayed his philosophy. At Empoli last season he made life difficult for much stronger teams. Let’s see how he does this season with players who, on paper, are better than the ones he coached last year.”
Your Champions League campaign last season, much like your season in Serie A, was a bit up and down. That said, you were in the ‘Group of Death.’ Do you think things will go better with a year’s more experience under your belt?
“We’re in danger of once again finding ourselves in a tough group this season. I attended the press conference before the Bayern Munich match and I was optimistic. After that game, we all agreed that we had played too open in the match at the Olimpico. We were too cocky and we said we’d play differently in the reverse fixture. That experience can help us going forward and perhaps this season we’ll be able to cause problems for teams of that level.”
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