The fourth episode of ” The Overlap On Tour ” is now available on The Overlap YouTube channel . The protagonist is Daniele De Rossi , who spoke about various topics including his past at Roma and English football. Here are his statements.

About football in Italy?

“Roman football is very very important for us. In Italy, especially in Rome, there is much more pressure. We are not Real Madrid, but many fans accept seasons in which they do not win trophies.”

Is winning more important to people than the style of play?

“No, not for many of them. The fans love the loyalty, the effort that is made on the pitch. But they still want to win, they would like to win. Even spending 10-12 years without winning but then coming first is nice for them. I spent many years in second place, it’s crazy, because there was a team in front of us that was worth 200 million euros more than us. We didn’t win trophies, but we won many games in the season; so people were comforted”.

When you started, did you want to play for Roma forever?

“Yes, everyone in Rome says they want to play for Roma. It happens sometimes, when you’re in Rome you have to decide. Sometimes you’re luckier and you can choose to go to a better club or stay here. I chose this one. It’s a ‘bad choice’ in football terms, but it’s fine for me.”

How old were you when you signed?

“I was 12 years old. I was in the same place I am now (De Rossi was still the Roma coach at the time the episode was recorded, ed. ), it was totally different. I was always on the bench, I was for the first 3-4 years and I was a striker! I was a delicate boy, technically good but not aggressive”.

You, Totti and Giannini are some of the most iconic players of this team. You are heroes for the fans.

“It’s something that starts from the love people have for this team. It’s not just me, Totti, Giannini… There were many other players who perhaps thought they weren’t good enough to stay and who decided to go on loan to another team. But it’s a dream when you’re a Roman boy and you grow up in Roma.”

When did you join the first team? And when did you switch to midfielder?

“I was 16. We were losing a match in Tuscany, I was on the bench and the captain was playing in midfield. He got a red card, the coach called me and told me to go and play in the middle of the field. We won 2-1. In the next match against Pescara the captain, Fabio, was out; the coach decided to make me play in midfield again… I remember everything, it changed my life. I was then called up to the Primavera. He told me: ‘You are my player and you will play with me’. I continued to play and Capello called me after seeing me in the Primavera. From there I never looked back. He was the first to call me up to the first team. That season we won the Scudetto, I accumulated a few benches and I was a small part of everything. Nobody remembers me, but I remember the emotions in the dressing room. The following season I played 5 games; the one after that Capello was trying to get Edgar Davids, with Juventus trying to ask for four or five young players to include in the exchange. The deal didn’t materialize, I don’t know why; Chievo, Reggina wanted me… But I said no. I thought I could play. Everyone told me I was crazy. There were Emerson, Dacourt, Tommasi, Zanetti… I said no anyway. I played about 25 games…”.

(Jamie Carragher speaks) I remember a UEFA Cup match between Roma and Liverpool. Some players were resting, you were trying to win the Scudetto.

“Do you also remember the referee of the match? (laughs, ed.)”.

Maybe! (laughs, ed.) We won 2-0 in Rome, it was 2001. The referee gave a penalty, then suddenly changed his decision. 

“That’s probably the moment when Roma won the Scudetto. Leaving the UEFA Cup we focused on the championship.”

Good choice! (laughs, ed.)

“It happens once every 50 years… It was a great thing!”

Is there a team you follow in England?

“I follow English football. When I was younger I followed United a bit more. I really like them.”

Have you ever been close to moving to England?

“I was close, it was my first option if I left Roma. There was Manchester United, there were opportunities to go to other teams. But United was the team where I saw the best place to grow young players. It was 2006, during the World Cup. Lippi called me, I was scared… I opened the door and Alex Ferguson was in the room. I was shy. A three-minute meeting, nothing special. I wanted to say yes! Because when I was young, United was a huge thing.”

Then they took Carrick.

“And they made the right choice, because he was a great player. I played against him three or four times and it was a disaster for us! We lost 7-1, 3-0… I scored a goal, but it was embarrassing for us. We were very good in the first leg in Rome, we won 2-1 and we said: ‘This is our season!’. Then we went to Old Trafford with a different team because of injuries and… In the first leg Scholes got a red card and we played very well. We were happy. But they ‘killed’ us in Manchester from the first minute”.

You played for Italy Under 21…

“Yes, more or less the same path I took with Roma. I wasn’t playing for Roma and I wasn’t called up to the first team, so I started with the Under 19s. We won the European Championship in Germany with the Under 21s.”

How old were you?

“Almost 21. We had the Olympic Games, we won the bronze and the Italy team manager called: ‘Daniele, tomorrow you go and play with the first team of the national team’. Everything happened so quickly. I scored after 3 minutes on my debut for the national team, it was easy for me!”.

You seized the opportunity.

“My teammates told me I was very lucky! The coach was too!”

Then Juventus and Milan were penalized, the referees… What was it like living through that period?

“It happened just before the World Cup, there were fans chanting against Juventus players, even though the players had done nothing. We tried to unite, we went to Germany and there were Italian people there who didn’t care about the scandal. They helped us in the stadiums. The tournament started, we won some games and they pushed us towards the final.”

You were among the youngest.

“I was one of the youngest, but I was suspended for two games. I got a red card, I was the stupidest player in the team! I drank a lot, I spent every week praying. ‘I hope I get another chance,’ I said to myself. I knew Lippi loved me as a player. He was always behind me, even if I was angry. And it’s always difficult for a coach to put a guy who has missed a few games previously. But I knew he would give me another chance. Even the assistant told me: ‘If we get to the final, you play.’ And that happened.”

Was Lippi your best coach?

“Lippi was a great coach, he had the group in his hands. He found the right word at the right time, he knew how to touch the right keys. Sometimes he was sweet with me and alternated hard moments with sweeter ones. A great coach, intelligent, good at creating the right atmosphere. He had a team full of champions, but I’m not talking about me: I’m talking about Totti, Nesta… Great personalities. But we were all going in the same direction. We almost won the European Championship in 2000 and in 2002 we were beaten by Korea. I’m happy to have been part of this group. When I took the penalty in the final I thought of my parents. They suffered for me: the red card, the criticism… Luckily I scored and it was a touching moment. Perhaps the only time I clearly remember what I felt. 20 years ago I couldn’t celebrate, I was in a small anti-doping room with Cannavaro… I have this very intense memory. I remember everything. That million people in Rome to celebrate us… But perhaps this success came too soon”.

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