Daniele De Rossi: Roma boss has ‘got something out from within’ players – but now faces momentous Inter test
The good vibes are back at Roma. After a stormy turn of the year threatened to derail their season, the arrival of club legend Daniele De Rossi has put smiles back on faces and restored faith that 2023-24 can be a campaign to remember after all.
There was only one available candidate who could have been accepted with open arms to replace a coach as popular as Mourinho, the latter a man who sparked a boom in attendances at the Stadio Olimpico and ended a 14-year trophy drought with the 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League triumph.
De Rossi is one of the most adored players ever to pull on a Roma shirt, a died-in-the-wool Romanista who had the chance to live his dream by representing his boyhood club 616 times – second only to Francesco Totti.
Although his coaching credentials were threadbare for such a big job – the 40-year-old’s only previous experience was a four-month spell at second-tier SPAL last season that ended in the sack – the popularity and respect he commands among fans and players alike ensured he was readily accepted as Mou’s successor.
Whether he will stay for the long term is yet to be decided. De Rossi’s deal expires at the end of the season, but should he bring his club back to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in five years, he would certainly make a strong case to take on the role permanently.
That goal is tantalisingly close, with fourth place just one point away (although fifth could also be enough for a qualification spot this season ahead of the change of format), but with seven points separating seven teams chasing that goal, it promises to be a nail-biting race with little room for error.
What has De Rossi changed?
De Rossi got off to the perfect start. He was eased in with a simpler run of fixtures, facing three of Serie A’s bottom four clubs, but few expected Roma to be able to change their style and swagger so quickly.
Although blessed with plentiful attacking talents like Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Stephan El Shaarawy, Roma were at times a difficult watch under Mourinho, playing a reactive and confrontational style.
De Rossi immediately switched formation from Mou’s 3-5-2 to a more expansive 4-3-3, encouraging players to get forward and pursue their attacking instincts. Captain Pellegrini has looked a new man, scoring three goals in three games, and Dybala has done likewise.
“De Rossi has brought enthusiasm. He knows these people. We’ve been able to get something out from within us that we weren’t showing before,” Dybala said after the win.
But a more attacking style isn’t the only change De Rossi is aiming to get out of this squad. He has also spoken openly about wanting his players to cut down on the back-chat to officials and opponents that featured in many of their games under Mourinho.
“I like it when players try to defend their team-mates, but when leading 4-0 they need to be intelligent,” De Rossi said after Lukaku and Leandro Paredes were booked in the Cagliari win.
“We need to clamp down on this sort of behaviour because getting booked when you are 4-0 up is truly stupid. We cannot afford to lose any of these players.”
Time for Roma to perform on the biggest stage
There would be no better way of De Rossi proving he is heralding a new era after Mourinho than by getting a result against Italy’s most formidable opponent.
Under Mou, Roma picked up five points from a possible 21 in games against fellow ‘Seven Sisters’ clubs: Inter, Milan, Juventus, Napoli, Lazio and Atalanta.
Indeed, it was a run of one draw and two defeats in such fixtures – with a Coppa Italia loss to rivals Lazio thrown in – that ultimately cost Mourinho his job last month.
Unbeaten since September and boasting the best attack and defence in Serie A, Inter look unstoppable as they march towards their first title in three years.
However, Roma’s home form is formidable in itself, with a 14-match unbeaten run in all competitions stretching back to September 1.
“Every team in the world is beatable, even if they are the best team in the league,” De Rossi said in his pre-match press conference.
‘You can’t say no to Roma’ – De Rossi on replacing Mourinho
“We are Roma and we’re playing at home. If you give them too much respect, that respect transforms into fear too easily. And fear makes you lose games.”
Something’s got to give. And after successfully putting smiles back on Giallorossi faces, De Rossi now has the chance to prove he can mix it with the very best.
How to watch Roma v Inter on TNT Sports and discovery+
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
Roma v Inter will be live on TNT Sports 1 with coverage from 17:00 on Saturday, February 10.
Live Serie A on TNT Sports and discovery+ this weekend (all times UK)
- Salernitana v Empoli, 19:45, TNT Sports 2
- Roma v Inter, 17:00, TNT Sports 1
- Sassuolo v Torino, 19:45, TNT Sports 4
- Fiorentina v Frosinone, 11:30, TNT Sports 2
- Bologna v Lecce, 14:00, TNT Sports 1
- Monza v Verona, 14:00, TNT Sports 2
- Genoa v Atalanta, 17:00, TNT Sports 1
- AC Milan v Napoli, 19:45, TNT Sports 1
- Juventus v Udinese, 19:45, TNT Sports 1
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