During his pre-match press conference, Daniele De Rossi suggested that Roma will take a different approach than in previous derbies under José Mourinho.
The Giallorossi haven’t won a derby against Lazio for over two years and didn’t score in the last four meetings with their city rivals. This season, they collected a 0-0 draw in the reverse Serie A fixture and lost 1-0 in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals this past January.
Tomorrow’s derby will be the first one on the bench for De Rossi and Lazio boss Igor Tudor who have replaced José Mourinho and Maurizio Sarri.
The previous meetings between Roma and Lazio were characterized by tension on the pitch. Three Roma players were sent off in the previous six derbies under Mourinho, but the Special One also received a red card in the most recent Coppa Italia derby, while his assistant Salvatore Foti was given his marching orders in a 1-0 loss in 2022.
Roma haven’t scored against Lazio since the last time they won, on March 20, 2022 and De Rossi suggested his players will have a different attitude tomorrow.
“The previous derbies were not positive. The guys have a desire for revenge, which we must fuel without exaggerating. There’s a football game against a strong side, so we must be clear-headed and act like a football team,” he said.
Based on De Rossi’s words, Roma players will also have a different attitude towards the referees.
“I have no strategy. I don’t focus too much on referees because I can’t train them to make correct decisions,” DDR claimed.
“Coaches want favourable decisions, not correct ones. We were affected in Lecce, and it was fair to point it out. However, we must focus on different things because I don’t want my players to think it’s the referees’ fault. There are many things we must improve before thinking about referees. I think I am a fair coach, and I don’t protest like the others do.”
Roma vs Lazio: Where to watch, TV channel, kick-off time, date