Genoa, De Rossi: "I didn’t deserve Roma sacking, had issues with CEO" | OneFootball

Genoa coach Daniele De Rossi spoke to DAZN before facing his former team Roma at the Olimpico on Monday night, discussing some disagreements that led to his dismissal.

Genoa, De Rossi recalls: “I had problems with the CEO at Roma, I’m happy they’re having a boom now”

Ahead of the match between Roma and Genoa on Monday night, which will see Daniele De Rossi return to the Stadio Olimpico, the Genoa coach spoke to DAZN, focusing on his time as Roma manager.

Here are his words, as reported by Vocegiallorossa:

On Roma

“In my first two experiences I had problems, for different reasons, with the management. At Roma I had problems with the CEO, nothing sensational but still problems. I don’t want to put myself in a position to have them, I don’t want the idea to spread that I have problems with the directors, because that’s not the case. You can’t lose who you are, I have the presumption to know how I am, I know I’m not a piece of shit, I will never betray the players by saying one thing and doing another, you don’t make promises to players about how much they’ll play.

Now I’m sorry, even though I’m doing very well. They’re having a boom that I’m happy about and that I had imagined. I had predicted it to them. I was convinced that certain players would struggle a bit in the first year, then explode in the second year and in the third year we would fight for the title. We weren’t crazy to bet on this group, which is very strong. The presidents hung on my every word, I had a constant relationship with them, then things broke down and I’m sorry. We, my staff and I, didn’t deserve what happened. You’re never ready for dismissal, it was very early, it was the first few matches.”

On the dismissal

“Partly because you think you’re at peace with your conscience, I had never lowered my commitment by even a centimeter, I never betrayed anyone inside, I never used the power I had in the city to protect myself and go against the club or players. That’s important to me, if I had betrayed myself I wouldn’t be proud of what I did. When you’re dismissed you stop doing that thing you love. It wasn’t more painful to be dismissed by Roma than by SPAL, it makes no difference, because you miss saying goodbye to those players, knowing that you won’t see some of them again. The pain is the same, all the players in Ferrara were crying. You’re left with a sense of incompleteness, of not having been able to finish the job.”

On returning to Roma

“It’s a special feeling. As a child you experience it one way, as a youth player in another, as a player in a very passionate way and as a coach in a crazy way. I always wished every day for Roma to win, that’s what makes me laugh the most. For a week I’ll have to work to make Roma lose. Even now, if I watch them, I watch as a colleague, as a former player, watching how the coach moves, but if they win I’m happy.” Did I think about coming back? No, I don’t think so, they made a clear and obvious choice. Was it talked about? Yes, but in Rome people always talk. I don’t think it would have been the right step for me, even though I obviously would have come back, I believe in the team and the players.”

On coaches

“Once a coach told me I wouldn’t play an important Champions League match because the next match, let’s say against Ascoli, would be more important. But how could it be more important? I would have preferred if he said nothing, don’t lie to me, don’t say anything, I understand you made a choice, I wouldn’t have caused problems, but don’t lie to me.”

On the end of his career

“I didn’t hate quitting as much as I would have hated seeing myself dragged around the pitch. I understood that’s what they would decide. I lived it calmly, but I was afraid the blow would hit me later. I asked to be told, there were three games left, it was obvious, the elephant in the press room. Then I was curious to know and, even though I’m not a fan of farewells, I wanted to say goodbye to my fans so, just before the last home game, I went to Fienga to ask, I wanted to do a press conference to say goodbye to everyone and take a lap of honor in the last match. At that point I could have tried to convince them, but as far as dignity goes, I would have lost dignity, I don’t want to give you the satisfaction of seeing me collapse in front of the Curva Sud. I represented a big part of Roma and, maybe, even of Italian football. What difference does one more year make? I was prepared also because I saw the end of Totti’s career, he was destroyed, I didn’t want to feel that bad. Then quitting football was a blow for me too. Sassuolo and Fiorentina wanted me, but I wasn’t convinced and I didn’t want to play against Roma. The fans wouldn’t have taken it well, some didn’t even like that I went to Boca.”

Raffaele Morra

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.