
De Rossi on Roma dismissal: anger but no bitterness
Nearly two years after his dismissal following a draw against Genoa in 2024, Daniele De Rossi has opened up about the end of his spell as Roma head coach. Speaking to Cronache di Spogliatoio, the former manager described the emotional toll of the decision and his struggle to accept it. De Rossi did not hide his frustration at the time: "When I was sacked by Roma I was furious. I had my 'enemies' and felt defeated in a battle I never had time to fight, but I never wanted to show I was bitter about it. I only did that once, in a press conference at SPAL, and I regretted it. I worked hard on these things." The former captain revealed that derby matches against Lazio were uniquely difficult throughout his career, exerting pressure in a way no other fixture could. "In my career I never suffered any match… except the derbies. Before facing Lazio I would spend three days in the bathroom vomiting, with Dacourt holding my head," he recalled. De Rossi explained his decision to avoid fuelling controversy after his departure, saying his relationship with Roma, though imperfect, did not deserve a bitter ending. "There is a moment and a place for everything: if I had wanted to say something, I should have done it when I was still there," he said.


