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Daniele De Rossi has returned to the spotlight. The former illustrious coach and icon of Rome’s yellow and red team was among the guests of the Sport Industry Talk at Rome’s Maxxi, alongside former Mayor Walter Veltroni. However, he did not dwell on the current state of affairs at Roma. This is the first time he has spoken since the day of his dismissal, which took place last September 18th. However, De Rossi has said little or nothing about Roma, largely because he is still under contract with the club. Daniele began with the concept of a sense of belonging: “When Sinner wins, we are happy, if he does it in the Davis Cup, we are even happier. For those who are fans, having something or someone to represent them is important. There are also many athletes representing a team that pays them. To continue an entire career with one team has a certain special flavor, but then, there’s always temptations. Every so often, you think to yourself, “I’m going to venture somewhere else.” But in the end, you stay, bound by a powerful sentiment. Victory doesn’t only bring happiness, but it undeniably imbues us with credibility and appeal in the eyes of the people. The greatest coach of recent years is Gasperini, he has revolutionized the life of a city and a club. It’s not just that he won, but he transformed an entire dimension. Yet, it was after securing the Europe League title that he truly became fascinating. At times, you lose trophies due to a penalty or an episode and people judge you differently. However, his victory has undeniably cast him in an unrivalled light. And this is a shame. Today, anyone who criticizes him thinks twice, the same thing happened to Spalletti after Napoli’s championship win. Initially, many considered you foolish if you said he was great. I may not have won a lot with Roma, but I have won a World Cup. “I don’t remember with more of a thrill that victory than the defeat at the 2012 Europeans.” In the parade of memories, Totti could not be missing. “The most captivating player I’ve ever played with? It’s Francesco. We played together for many years and he was captivating even to his teammates. In addition to being the strongest, he had this light, this silent charisma. He conversed with his gestures, he was always there when you were in trouble. I experienced him as a fan and as a companion. An adversary? Zidane, a man who may have seemed brooding but was pleasant to watch, extremely powerful. However, the most difficult to mark was indeed Seedorf. “He was smarter, more technical, and physically stronger than me. He gave me a few fever lines after I confronted him.” Then, a hint about his latest experiences: “What qualities do you need to coach a team? Altruism, I was it as a player and I am as a coach. At Spal, I was seen as an unidentified object; they saw me as a former player and the right key was needed to be believed and tell them that they were more important than me. In Rome, I walked in as a flag-bearer, many considered me a friend, and even there, it was necessary to stay close to them, but not give them too much space. It is essential to manage and accompany the moods of both the staff and the team. The mental aspect of management is key, then of course soccer knowledge is needed but managing the group is crucial. The discussion began by addressing grand systems – “If I were Infantino? Perhaps I lack the means to find a solution and make soccer more fascinating. We Italians have grown closer to tennis not just because of the victories, but also due to the faces achieving these victories. We’re talking about fresh faces, crystalline characters. Football is tugged at the jacket by those in power and by the fans. What is good for my club is even more interesting than the spectacle itself. We are all enticed more by profit than spectacle. Whether it’s economic gain for a manager, or sporting delights for a fan or an industry insider like myself. The simplicity or normality, as Spalletti used to call it, is underestimated in football. It’s difficult to play simple, think about Rodri, who wins the Ballon d’Or because he plays simple. However, to do so, you need to harbor a thousand other thoughts at any moment when you’re not in the frame; I played in that position myself. Today, everyone tends to overdo it, and we do it too, with our own children. We give them incredible gifts at Christmas, and then we might see them playing with a wheel. It’s time to return to normalcy. Too much strategy? Yes, and this is serious. Those who coach the young ones bear a greater responsibility, but we all want to emulate those who are clever and attractive in the eyes of others. So we turn our attention to the Barcelona phenomenon, but those who coach children carry a crucial responsibility. If you remove the ball from their feet to make them practice tactics or strategies, you’re making a mistake. The young boy must focus on skillfully dribbling or swiping the ball away from the opponent’s feet.

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