Roma sporting director Monchi insists “we made the sales we needed to” in January and "the squad has quality".
The Giallorossi sold Emerson Palmieri to Chelsea for €20m plus €9m in bonuses, signing Jonathan Silva to replace him.
The new full-back was presented today, and the director was present at the Press conference.
“We’re here for the presentation of a new Roma signing, to whom we wish good luck as we welcome him,” Monchi began by saying.
Roma sporting director Monchi insists “we made the sales we needed to” in January and "the squad has quality".
The Giallorossi sold Emerson Palmieri to Chelsea for €20m plus €9m in bonuses, signing Jonathan Silva to replace him.
The new full-back was presented today, and the director was present at the Press conference.
“We’re here for the presentation of a new Roma signing, to whom we wish good luck as we welcome him,” Monchi began by saying.
“He has the characteristics we look for in a left-back, [Coach Eusebio] Di Francesco likes him, and being young he still has room to improve.
“[Leandro] Castan has gone out on loan, while we sold Emerson and [Hector] Moreno. If we look at the participation of the outgoing players, we realise we made the sales we needed to.
“I’d say it’s a normal balance. It’s easier for me to work now, because I understand the club better.
“I have to improve to make possible the project that I have in mind for Roma, and in the coming months we’ll do better.”
Monchi famously said that “Roma is not a supermarket”, a statement which has come back to haunt him after the sales of Palmieri, Mohamed Salah, Leandro Paredes and Antonio Rudiger.
“Sometimes you have to say something to protect the club and for that reason I said that players are here to win, not to be sold.
“It’s no use looking back, we have to try to build a team closer to what the fans want. It’s time to speak less and work more.
“The fans are angry, we understand that, we have to take responsibility and move forward. It doesn’t matter what I thought in the past, what matters is the present and the future.
“I think we should look for solutions rather than assigning responsibility. I’m the first person responsible for building the squad, I make the decisions.
“So if you’re looking for the person responsible for the squad, he’s here. Everyone can improve, from the players, to the staff, to the Coach and the sporting director.
“We’re all aware that there’s something to be improved on an individual level. The sporting director has the autonomy to decide.
“I have been here for nine months and now I am convinced that I know the club better, and I am 100 per cent sure I’ve improved as a sporting director.”
CEO Mauro Baldissoni aimed some veiled criticism at Di Francesco yesterday, will he be at Roma next season?
“I can help the Coach day-by-day by giving my contribution. Right now it’s difficult to reflect on the players, in my opinion this squad has great quality.
“I watch the Coach every day and I see good things on a technical and tactical level. I’m convinced the squad is strong, at an individual level too.
“If we had talked about these things on December 8 I’d be of the same opinion, but it’s different now because we’re not in good form.
“The sale of Emerson, who has played one game, to Chelsea is testament to the quality of the squad.”