A week has passed since Roma fans were rocked by the announcement of Daniele De Rossi’s sacking by the club after just four games of the season. Actions speak louder than words, and the blunt nature of Roma’s statement only added to the discontent shown towards the Friedkins – who later tried to rectify the situation by claiming De Rossi could come back to Roma one day. But by then it was too late for many. So, with the past week having just about sunk in, here is the thank you message that was missing from Roma’s communication.
Thank you, Daniele De Rossi. Roma will remember how you came to their aid yet again, without any focus on personal gain. Your devotion to these colours knows no bounds.
Some would say you weren’t ready to coach a club of Roma’s size. But you put your reputation on the line to help your club when they were in need. And, for a fleeting few months, you inspired them.
You put yourself completely at Roma’s disposal when called upon. There were no financial motivations, nor thoughts about any long-term implications, when you accepted the interim manager’s role. You were there to service your club again, for however long was needed, just as you had done with such distinction and honour as a player.
And you proved you had potential on the touchline. You motivated the team to beat Feyenoord for a third year in a row, installing a strong mentality in the team as they overcame the lottery of penalties. You continued that European progress with strong wins over Brighton and Milan. And in the league, you oversaw a long-awaited derby win.
There were bumps on the road and it was a struggle to settle on a preferred system, especially once an abundance of new players came in. It was not a perfect tenure. But it wasn’t expected to be. The way you led Roma, in your first taste of top-flight management, was respectable.
Time often has the final say and perhaps in this case things didn’t quite match up as well as at one point it seemed like. But, upon your second exit from Roma, you once again deserve the thanks of your people. Thank you for defending our club again.
Good luck, Daniele, for whatever comes next. You will always be one of us.
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