Daniele De Rossi explains why he starts Dean Huijsen and lays down the gauntlet. ‘We know they are a good team, hopefully by the final whistle Inter will know that Roma are too.’
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 17.00 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Giallorossi have won all three games since De Rossi took over from sacked Jose Mourinho and he faces his toughest test yet by hosting runaway leaders Inter.
“It’s exciting, just as the debut was, just as the first at home was, these are all strong emotions, but luckily or unluckily, there is very little free time to think about the atmosphere because the game has to be prepared, so I’m calm,” De Rossi told DAZN.
There is one change from the XI that beat Cagliari 4-0, as Dean Huijsen is preferred to Diego Llorente in central defence, but fellow January buy Angeliño is again at left-back with a trident of Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala and Stephan El Shaarawy.
“Llorente could’ve played today, he finished the game against Cagliari early with a slight problem, then was in an out of training this week. Seeing as Huijsen is out of the UEFA squad list, I am using him today so that we don’t risk facing Feyenoord with only one centre-back.
“Dean may be young, but I have absolute faith in him, he already has great character, good feet, strength and height, so we trust him.”
For the first time in five months, Chris Smalling is on the bench after his injury woes, but it is above all a strange match for Romelu Lukaku, who faces his former teammates. How did the Belgian seem in the build-up to this appointment?
“I saw a player, like all his teammates, very relaxed. They are aware this is going to be a tough game against a strong opponent. Inter have a lot of strengths, like all teams in the world they have a few defects too,” assured De Rossi.
“My career as a player taught me that I faced many strong opponents and won, then lost to teams that seemed weaker. Anything can happen, the result is wide open. We know they are a good team, hopefully by the final whistle Inter will know that we are too.”
🏟️ Daniele… DE ROSSI! 🔥#RomaInter pic.twitter.com/xS8LQMbyjd
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 10, 2024