Roma head coach Daniele De Rossi opened up on his happiness for Giallorossi pair Paulo Dybala and Chris Smalling, on the back of his side’s latest Serie A triumph on Monday.
Roma, of course, marked their return to action late last night. Fresh off sending Dutch giants Feyenoord packing from the Europa League, the capital outfit turned their attentions back towards matters on the domestic front, in a Serie A meeting with Torino.
And, when all was said and done, the evening’s hosts kept their fine run of form under the watch of new boss Daniele De Rossi very much alive.
This came by way of a night to remember for Paulo Dybala, who notched all three of his side’s goals en route to an eventual 3-2 triumph.
Speaking to the media on the back of proceedings coming to a close at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma’s headmaster, in turn, was drawn on his reaction to Dybala’s hat-trick clinching strike.
After finding the net midway through the 2nd-half, the Argentine frontman made a beeline for his manager, culminating in a joyous embrace on the sideline.
And De Rossi, during an exchange with Voiceyellowred, as cited by TuttomercatoWeb, went on to explain that:
“I rejoiced because as soon as he moved the ball I said he’s scoring. It’s exciting, but not because it’s Dybala. I felt like hugging Esposito from SPAL and other players at the end of the match and I was as excited as a child. For me the most important thing is the relationship I create with them, whether their name is Dybala or Nicola Rauti. The relationship I have with these guys is what keeps me alive and what makes me choose this job every day, which makes me have this desire every morning to get up and do it. These hugs are little cuddles that my staff and I willingly take because we are truly happy, beyond the work, with what has been created in so few days with the team.”
From here, De Rossi was then questioned on the efforts of the returning Chris Smalling, who was on Monday afforded his first start in almost six months.
And the Italian tactician made use of the opportunity to lavish praise on the former Manchester United man, who he views as both ‘an exceptional guy’ and ‘a great professional’:
“I’m happy for Chris,” De Rossi told DAZN, as per TuttomercatoWeb. “We were waiting for him. You have to manage such a long injury from a physical point of view, the loads, the minutes you give them, also from the emotional point of view, in which match to bring him back. He is an exceptional guy, since I met him I have found a great professional who wants to demonstrate that he can get back to doing what he knows how to do very well.”
Conor Laird | GIFN
