ROME (ITALPRESS) – “I have been doing this job for 14 years and Rome is the biggest team I have ever coached. I’m not hiding, it’s a great opportunity and when it happens to you you don’t think about what kind of contract you are offered. You just want to prove that you can coach a great team.” These are the words of Ivan Juric at his first press conference as Roma coach, ahead of the match against Udinese. “I spoke with the ownership, which was very clear and direct; they took young people to develop and grow. There is a good base of experienced players. They asked for results and player development. The goal is to get back into the Champions League and stay there for years,” added the new Giallorossi coach, who took over from the exonerated De Rossi. He will make his debut against an Udinese side that, Juric stressed, “is going strong, has changed mentality, I like the players, is one of the strongest in Serie A. It will be very hard to face them, they know how to score goals in so many ways and they have an impressive physical structure.” Regarding his new team, the former Granata coach says, “Last year, during De Rossi’s first phase, it was an aggressive Roma, they played very aggressive matches and it seemed to me that the players could do it,” explained the new Giallorossi coach. “We need to take this up a bit and work on it, more than physical strength and running, position, knowledge count. Even in Turin there were players who were ‘not adapted,’ but then they succeeded with position. I noticed these days that it will take some time, but the team can do it. It can press high, maybe not all 90 minutes, but it can do it.” It will also depend on the men available, and Juric hopes he can count on Zalewski. “The matter is being resolved in the right way. I like the player and he has resumed training with the team. For me he can be really important for the development of the whole season.” Space also for Paulo Dybala’s role: “We are talking about an intelligent player, we know his qualities, he does a great job also defensively. He does both phases very well, I would like to play him on the right so that he can get him back on the left. I don’t see any problem, he has so much quality. He has not played for various events, but he can pair up with Soulè without any problems.”- Photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
