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Roma striker Patrik Schick has claimed that his teammate Edin Dzeko is one of the best centre-forwards in world football.
Schick has largely failed to match Dzeko's goalscoring output in his time with Roma, with the latter edging closer to 100 goals for the club while Schick continues to struggle in front of goal. However, the Czech Republic striker has revealed his admiration for his teammate in an interview with DAZN - while also addressing where he can improve his own game. "I'm doing well," said Schick. "I'm coming back from injury and things and I'm ready to return. I hope I can be there for the Derby - it's always a special match against Lazio as the supporters expect a win. It's important for them and you can just feel how different things are during the week. "When things don't go well something needs to change, at a team level but above all personal. I wanted a change in grinta and in spirit, then I asked myself, 'Where can I improve?' I wanted to go on the pitch with more grinta, even for our fans who perhaps were angry. "Now, I go into every battle at 100% and I think I've improved in playing more for the team." Schick was also asked about his relationship with head coach Eusebio Di Francesco - who has often deployed the 23-year-old on the right wing in order to accommodate Dzeko in his preferred central position. "Before going onto the pitch, he tells me to have fun, to be present in the game, to do what I can do. When you have a clear mind, without problems, you play better. Things were difficult for me in the beginning, there were so many expectations, especially due to the amount that Roma had paid. It was difficult, but I worked on myself to be comfortable. "Since I was a boy, I've always played as a striker. Now, though, I'm more interested in simply playing, whether it's in the middle or on the right. I do different things match by match." Finally, Schick revealed the benefits of having Dzeko as a teammate. "I can speak in my own language, Czech, when I'm with him on the pitch. He's scored more than 300 goals in his career and, for me, he is one of the strongest strikers in the world. Being with him is a great experience for me. His movements in the area are very interesting for me."
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Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy has confirmed that he would like to stay at the club beyond the length of his current contract - but admitted that renewal talks won't take place until the end of the season.
El Shaarawy, who joined the club in 2016, will have just one year left on his contract by the end of this season, meaning he could be sold in the summer. However, the Italian winger has revealed that he hopes to extend his contract in the off-season. He told Gazzetta Dello Sport: "We haven't discussed my contract and I'm not going to do it until the end of the season. "I want to stay focused on the games coming up. We're having a good season. Now it must be settled. "Of course I'd like to stay at Roma. Here I've been welcomed in a fantastic way and I feel very good, but we'll talk about it at the end of the season." 'Il Faraone' surpassed double figures in terms of goals in his first full season with the Giallorossi, but is yet to repeat the feat. However, having already netted eight times this season, he is well on course to do just that. "My objective is to reach double figures for goals," he insisted. "It'll be important to maintain this rhythm and find even more continuity. Physically I'm fine. Now I hope to have a great end to the season. "No more inconsistency? I don't want to say that, I'm trying to take it one game at a time. But it's true, I think I have improved in that sense." The father of breakout Roma star Nicolo Zaniolo has confirmed that the midfielder will reject the advances of Juventus to remain with the Giallorossi.
Zaniolo, who arrived from Inter in the summer, has emerged as one of Italian football's brightest prospects this season, and has caught the attention of a number of top European clubs. The 19-year-old was a Juventus fan growing up, and the Bianconeri have been linked with him, but his father Igor has refuted speculation in an interview with Corriere Dello Sport - while also responding to reports that controversial super-agent Mino Raiola wants Zaniolo to become his client. "Raiola asked for information and is interested in Zaniolo, but [Claudio] Vigorelli will remain Nicolo’s agent for a long time," he explained. “At the end of the season there will be a meeting with Roma for his renewal, and there won’t be any problems. “On both sides there’s a willingness to conclude negotiations in a positive way. The recent talk has been bad for Roma and Nicolo. “We all have to row on the same boat if he is to develop properly. We mustn’t upset the fans and club: Roma are going for third place, there’s the derby and then the match against Porto: for him the priority is the team and he only wants to think about the pitch." The developments come after Zaniolo was recently caught on camera saying that his goal is to stay with Roma for the rest of his career. Aside from his playing ability, the Fiorentina youth product has also stood out for his humility, and given his father's other comments, it's clear to see where it comes from. “Yesterday he spent the day at home with his mother. He wants to stay focused on Roma’s upcoming games in Serie A and Champions League," Igor continued. “The first leg against Porto was a good test, but of course it’s not enough. We won’t hide his quality as it’s undeniable, but obviously we mustn’t stop now because he hasn’t done anything yet. “[His talent] will have to be confirmed in the final part of the season and then the next few years. If he stops at his two goals against Porto then we’re at the beginning of the end. "The derby? I’m pumped for it. The derby is always a special game and there’s a fantastic atmosphere for it in the city. Nicolo is fired up, but I hope he’s more relaxed than I am.” Former Roma sporting director Walter Sabatini has admitted that he is "embarrassed" by the form of attacking midfielder Javier Pastore.
Pastore was signed by Monchi in the summer of 2018 as a replacement for the Inter-bound Radja Nainggolan, but his debut season in Rome has been plagued by injury, lack of consistency, and a poor attitude that has seen him refuse to fight for his place. Sabatini - the man who originally brought Pastore to Italy when he was with Palermo - has revealed his own disappointment in the Argentine playmaker. Speaking to Teleradiostereo, he said: "Pastore's performance embarrasses me very much. I was lucky enough to see him play and dominate the pitch. I saw stadiums standing for him, away, such as when he was applauded in Florence. "I'm very sorry to see him play like this, I told him, he has to set about his Argentine pride to go back and return to his levels. "To play as he knows, he must do something, no-one can help him. Pastore needs to play well to be appreciated. He isn't a running defensive midfielder, he is an offensive phantom, an all-out playmaker. "He has an exceptional level, but he must always stay close to the ball. "He would be well-matched with [Sampdoria coach Marco] Giampaolo's style of play, but I'll stop there because then maybe you'll create situations that I don't want." Sabatini - who played for Roma in the 1976-77 season - was also asked how he thinks the Giallorossi will fare over the rest of the season. "[Roma will end the season] entering the Champions League, hoping to pass the round with Porto. The team is healthy and ultimately also lucky, which is a relevant component. Roma will go to the Champions League [places in Serie A] and reach the quarter-finals." The 63-year-old's spell as Roma sporting director brought mixed results, but one of his most successful purchases was striker Edin Dzeko, who has gone on to achieve a place in the club's all-time top 10 goalscorers. "The operation [to sign him] was born because I had the feeling that Roma needed a new hero after Totti. It's hard for a team like Roma without a hero, but the salary of the player and pricetag were heavy for that Roma. But in the end we concluded the deal well." With Monchi expected by some to leave Roma at the end of the season, Sabatini has been tentatively linked with a return to the Giallorossi sporting director role, but he was coy when quizzed about it. "What's that got to do with anything, let me do my job. Forza Roma!" Justin Kluivert's debut season at Roma hasn't all gone to plan this year, with the young winger limited to just seven starts in Serie A.
Now his father, Dutch legend Patrick, has revealed that he thinks the 19-year-old made the move to Roma too early in his career. Speaking to sport360.com, the former Barcelona striker said: "Personally I said always, stay one or two years more with Ajax. But as a father, you need to follow and respect the decision of your son. "So, I did. I don't think he made the best decision, but he made a good decision and he is feeling great at the moment in Rome. "Of course, he wants to play more minutes. But he is 19 years old and he can't demand things. "When he is playing he is doing his best. He is feeling good in his position and that is enough for me. "I want to see how next year will be, if he gets more minutes in the starting XI." Kluivert recorded an assist on his league debut for Roma, crossing the ball for Edin Dzeko's volley in the season opener against Torino. He also became Roma's youngest ever Champions League scorer by netting in the 5-0 win over Viktoria Plzen. Roma today received a major boost in their long-term quest to build their own stadium as Mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi confirmed that the Stadio Della Roma project can commence.
Plans for the Stadio Della Roma have been in place for several years, but the project has hit roadblock after roadblock, causing construction to be delayed. However, today Roma finally took a firm step forward with their ambitions to open their own stadium, with Raggi's announcement confirming that ground could even be broken before the end of the year. At a press conference, Raggi stated: "Thank you for being here, and thank you to Professor Dalla Chiara, who took care of the opinion on the Tor di Valle stadium and the engineer Brinchi. We are here to illustrate the opinion of the Politecnico di Torino [who had produced a report on how traffic issues would be resolved around the stadium]. "Let’s say immediately: the stadium will be built and that the proponents, if they want, can begin construction as early as this year. The investments will lead to the redevelopment of a degraded area. Building this stadium is the correct choice. I requested this opinion from the Politecnico di Torino, even though I wasn’t obliged to do so, to ensure it would bring a real benefit to the citizens, despite it being already approved by the Conferenza dei Servizi. Their opinion now reassures and confirms this fact. "The change made on the initial project is, however, positively impacting the city. The administration is in favour of public works and works that bring benefits to citizens. This will be a work that complies with all European and environmental regulations. The opinion will be published today in full." Among the issues that had previously delayed the stadium were transport and parking problems, as well as environmental concerns. However, Roma now have the all-clear to commence work on the stadium, which will prove to be an important source of revenue for the club and the city. Club vice-president Mauro Baldissoni outlined the next steps for the project on the club's official website. "All that remains now is to go through the few outstanding technical and administrative steps to complete the final approval. First of those will be the approval of the ‘urban variation’. We are continuing to work closely with the administration on that. Everything has been discussed, there are no contentious points still to be resolved. All that remains is to address a couple of technical issues, which will then allow a date to be set for the final vote on the variation. "Then, once that is done, the project can be passed on to Lazio Regione, who will issue the final building permits. We expect that will conclude everything as far as the approval process goes, and hopefully as soon as possible. "It is about time the city got the opportunity to see the results of all these discussions and all this investment, and that Roma can finally begin construction of the stadium." Edin Dzeko will not be available to play in Roma's next two Coppa Italia matches after receiving a ban for his red card in Wednesday's 7-1 defeat to Fiorentina.
Substitute Dzeko received a red card when the score was 4-1 after reacting to the referee's decision not to award Roma a free kick for a clear foul on Lorenzo Pellegrini. Videos circulated online suggesting Dzeko had spat at referee Gianluca Manganiello, but the official report put an end to those claims. The Bosnian striker has in fact been banned for "using offensive language to protest a decision of the referee." Dzeko has also been fined €10,000. However, the ban only applies for Coppa Italia games, so Dzeko wil be available for Roma's Serie A clash with AC Milan on Sunday. Italy manager Roberto Mancini has chosen five Roma players to be involved in a tw0-day training camp next week in preparation for the country's Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Mancini's squad - which comprises a total of 32 members - only features players based in Serie A. Among those selected are Alessandro Florenzi, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Bryan Cristante, Nicolo Zaniolo and Stephan El Shaarawy. The training camp will take place between Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th February at Coverciano, as Italy prepare for matches against Finland and Liechtenstein next month. Although this squad won't compete in any matches during their time together, it gives an indication of who is in Mancini's thoughts ahead of next month's qualifiers. El Shaarawy is returning to an Italy squad for the first time since November 2017. The winger has a total of 23 caps for Italy since his 2012 debut, scoring three international goals. He was a member of their squad for Euro 2016, and will be aiming to play a role in its follow-up. Zaniolo has been one of the success stories of the season, not just for Roma, but in Serie A as a whole. Firmly in Mancini's thoughts since his first international call-up in September 2018, Zaniolo is still awaiting his senior debut. Pellegrini is becoming more and more influential for Roma, and is beginning to replicate that form for the Azzurri too. He will be hoping to make his first major international tournament next summer. His fellow midfielder Cristante has been steadily improving over the season, and will be looking to add to his six senior caps so far. Finally, Florenzi maintains his place in the national setup despite inconsistent club form. With 31 caps, he is the most experienced of the five players called up for the squad. |
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