Daniele De Rossi reveals Roma have been working hard in training on drilling his new ideas into the team as they prepare to face Claudio Ranieri’s Cagliari this evening.
It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
“All teams are well-drilled and try to leave few spaces to the opponents. That is also the prerogative of Mister Ranieri, so we need a lot of quality and patience this evening,” De Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.
After the 2-1 wins over Verona and Salernitana, De Rossi had complained Roma were too ‘slow and predictable’ when moving the ball around, so has he been working on that in training?
“We were a little repetitive in telling the players what the phases of the game were, when we had to step on the gas and push forward to score, when it was time to slow it down and play out from the back.
“The lads know how to do it and I realise that trying to think about what the coach wants can lead you to go a bit too slowly and carefully. Hopefully, we can see improvements from tonight.”
Angelino is thrown straight into the starting XI for his debut just days after arriving on loan from RB Leipzig, via Galatasaray, while Tommaso Baldanzi is on the bench.
It was a sad week for Roma, as club legend and Scudetto winner Giacomo Losi died at the age of 88.
Having been a Giallorossi player from the youth academy all the way through to wearing the captain’s armband, De Rossi had several opportunities to meet with Losi.
“He was a lovely person. So shy and reserved, he always thought that he was bothering us, whereas we wanted to convince him to tell us anecdotes about that wonderful time in football history.”
Before Francesco Totti and De Rossi, Giacomino Losi had the record for most Roma appearances.
🏟️ Giacomo LOSI 💛❤️#ASRoma pic.twitter.com/eaXQrZCyrf
— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) February 5, 2024
DDR have a word with our useless Sarri , tell him other tactics are available!