What We're Reading
Undefeated Roma Targets Europe, Not Scudetto
- Football Italia, Monday, September 30, 2013 2:43 PM
Daniele De Rossi insists undefeated AS Roma is targeting a return to Europe rather than the Scudetto this season, despite the capital club’s flying start to the season. Roma
has won all six of its opening Serie A games under new coach Rudi Garcia, including Sunday’s 5-0 demolition of Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.
After that game,
midfielder De Rossi, who seems to have returned to form in the absence of injured U.S. international Michael Bradley, told Sky Sport Italia: “This victory adds points and
confidence. We no longer wet ourselves the way we used to in the past.” He added that Roma “plays like a real team now” but the Serie A title is not the club’s main priority:
“Scudetto? We are top after six rounds, so it’s normal someone is going to think about it, but we are not the strongest team. Our objective is to get back into Europe and I’m sure
we’ll achieve that.”
For coach Garcia, Roma can get better: “There is no such thing as a perfect team in soccer, as there is always something to improve.” The former
Lille coach added that he was particularly impressed with Cote d’Ivoire international Gervinho, who scored twice against Bologna. “He is a lad who needs confidence and we
must understand that scoring opportunities he creates don’t exist without him there,” Garcia said. “He can get some wrong, but I prefer to have him there because I know he’ll
create those opportunities.
