Lorenzo Pellegrini: “I will always give my all for Roma.” | OneFootball

Roma captain Lorenzo Pellegrini released a lengthy interview to Il Romanista.

The midfielder discussed Gasperini’s impact on the team.

“Have we assimilated his concepts? I think so. Tactical difficulties also depend on others. Like against Lille: we lost and struggled initially, as they had one of their players between the lines and we had to go after him differently than we had planned. Then we work on the preparation for the match.”

“As far as we’re concerned, it’s always in line with the opponents. Sometimes, what you expect doesn’t happen and it takes a few minutes to fully understand what’s happening. But we always managed to get the game back on track.”

“Even in Milan, against a Milan team that closes down well, counters, and has a top-level team, we went out there and played. We had a great half-hour in the first half; then we struggled in the last 10 minutes and were so-so at the start of the second half. But after that, the game was pretty one-sided.”

“Our objectives? Why should we rule anything out? We’re here every day, working hard to improve ourselves and make things work well. The coach tells us things I believe in, namely that we need to focus on the pitch. With Milan, we had 20 shots on target, 30 crosses, and zero goals. Those are the things we need to improve on. Being more clinical, often, is also a mental issue.”

“We often get fixated: “It won’t work now…” But no. Gasperini says we need to improve on the things we need to improve on; everything related to commitment, dedication, determination. In the last five games, even the way we play has changed for the better. Then, in a little while, we’ll set ourselves a more concrete objective. Talking now is also a bit pointless.”

“Gasperini? He makes us work, he tries to get us to understand his way of seeing football, even on a mental level. This is why I say we’re on the right path: it’s been a short time, but already we can see many things that are different from what they were before.”

On no longer wearing the captain’s armband, Pellegrini said, “Even in past years, when I wore the armband on Sundays, I always said that the armband belongs to those who wear it every day. Those who never arrive a minute late to Trigoria, because it’s a matter of respect for themselves and for all the professionals who are here. Those who always have a proactive attitude towards their teammates. Those who don’t just care about themselves, but the good of the group. For me, this is what being a captain is, and what I’ve always tried to be. Not just when I had the armband on my arm, it’s the same today that I don’t.”

“I think the coach is a very straightforward person, and I really appreciate that. We talked when I was still injured and working separately. Once I returned to the team, he always treated me like one of the others, without any problems. I don’t know what rumors reached him… Neither he nor I are people who need to talk for an hour every day. But when we talk, we say things as they are. Then that’s it. The transfer window closed, I stayed here, and we worked on the pitch.”

“Were there any offers in the summer? I thought about it, of course. And more than offers, there was interest. But that injury was too decisive at that time. I hadn’t trained with the team yet; I made my first symbolic bench in Pisa, after training once with the others. Plus, I’m not someone who likes things to be done at the last minute: if I have to do something, I have to think carefully, be confident in what I’m doing.”

“De Rossi? For me, Daniele is and will be a great coach. I hope he can return to the bench soon, because what I’ve seen in him on the pitch—and I’m not talking about him off the pitch, since everyone knows our relationship—makes him seem like an important coach in my eyes. Strong, well-prepared. He studies the opponent well and puts the player in a position to come in on Sundays and know everything that’s going on. It was easy to play with him as coach.”

“Mourinho? I liked Mourinho. What happened, and what I was told, was that when he left, he was told something that wasn’t true. But I couldn’t let it slide like that, because of the relationship I have with him. That same day I picked up the phone and called Mourinho.”

“For me, being a Romanista isn’t about being silly or frivolous. It’s about coming here every day, giving 100%. I’ll never be Totti, I’ll never be De Rossi. I’m Pellegrini. I’ll never give even 1% less as long as I’m here. But I’m not talking about Sundays. I’m talking about what happens every day here, in Trigoria.”

“You have to be honest, and I am: last year was a really bad season. Even in terms of performance, the player, the professional. Let’s leave aside Lorenzo, Roma, the Roman spirit. It was a bad season. That’s fine. If I’m criticized for my performance, that’s a matter of course. We’re professionals, it’s fair game. As a player, I can be liked or disliked, liked or disliked. What drives me crazy is that in this city we talk about things that never happen. Things that happen outside, in someone’s head. And from that head, that thing manages to enter fifty thousand other heads. That’s the problem.”

“My dream is to understand what level I’m at. My dream was to play for Roma and win with Roma. I was lucky enough to achieve it, winning is always a dream, and then with this shirt… But my Roman identity is loving Roma regardless.”