BREAKING NEWS; De Rossi Calm as Roma Prepares to Kick-off Season in Cagliari

From the initial transfer market frustrations that saw the Giallorossi chase Jonathan David and Federico Chiesa in vain to the surprising, big-money acquisitions of Matías Soulé and Artem Dovbyk to this week’s Paulo Dybala controversy—where a certain section of fans scapegoated De Rossi himself—Daniele De Rossi has experienced the entire Roma manager emotional spectrum in the span of a month, six weeks, tops.

Given that tumult, one couldn’t fault De Rossi for being distracted as he prepared for the first opening day of his managerial career. This week’s opponents, Cagliari, may be the most difficult squad name to pronounce, but the Sardinia-based club narrowly avoided relegation last season, avoiding the drop by a solitary point. But with precious few reinforcements signed this summer, Cagliari figures to be cast in that same lot this season.

 

Dybala controversies aside, Roma has ample firepower to overwhelm Cagliari, so let’s pick apart De Rossi’s first presser of the season before offering a mini-preview of Sunday’s action.

 

And we might as well start with the topic of the day—Paulo Dybala

 

De Rossi on whether or not Dybala will play:

 

“There are no unavailable players. Paredes is suspended; he will play with the Primavera because he needs minutes and he needs to play, having arrived later. We are happy to have the support of the youth sector; he will play X amount of minutes that we have already decided.

“Dybala? We have heard something; there has been a little talk about it. Paulo is with us; many other players have market situations. He comes with us, he has been called up, there are no problems.”

On how De Rossi the coach vs. De Rossi the fan processes Dybala’s potential departure:

“You can’t ask me to be a fan, I will always be one but now I can’t do it. The message is always the same: to deal delicately with topics that are vital for a fan. If you talk to my mother about the transfer of a player she says ‘ok that’s fine’. If you talk about it with a fan think about unforgettable and bad moments or how much he bonded with a player…

“Tomorrow Paulo will explain what will happen. He is a strong player, I’ve always said so and he remains a strong player. What I had to say I said to him and to the club. I spoke to those who wanted to leave, those who don’t play much or those who wanted reassurance. I have a good relationship with everyone and I always say things to their faces.