Lorenzo Pellegrini has said his one-year contract was a decision made by the club, which he accepted, and that Gian Piero Gasperini has been fundamental to his situation. The midfielder spoke at a press conference on the eve of Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava.
Pellegrini had been out of action for six months, and he explained what led to the choice to sign a one-year renewal. Speaking about his fitness, he said: "I feel very good, I am calm mentally. We are working physically. Obviously, not being on the pitch for so long required a reintegration, giving it the right time. I can still raise my physical level; at first it was more difficult. We are continuing to work, I am happy and calm, this is an exceptional group where during the week we go very strong and on Sunday even more." He added: "The one-year contract was a choice by the club which I accepted."
Asked about the Roma he has rediscovered and how to handle the pressure to win, he said: "That is always there, in every match you go in to win. It is a good pressure, one we are used to, and it is there every Sunday. Otherwise I have rediscovered the group that has always been there, united, which goes strong, in which we all get on well together. There is a desire to improve globally."
On his summer as a player without a club for a month and a half, he said: "It was serene, because anyway there was the need to feel well as soon as possible. There was the matter of having to train again. The thought was focused on feeling well. I have to say it was serene because we always stayed in contact with the coach and the staff to continue together." Asked whether anyone had called him, he replied: "Yes, but at that moment it was a priority for me to feel well, and then, as I have said and shown, my priority was to stay here for what we built last year. We managed it and I am very happy."
Pellegrini described Gasperini's role as decisive. "The coach has been fundamental, because we started last year in a situation where it seemed almost normal to part ways, although it would never have been normal; it was as if the right time had come. The first time I spoke with the coach we immediately found ourselves on the path I would take with him, despite having only one year of contract." He said he had always been fully available to come in every day and do what was best for the team. On the contract talks, he said: "We did not discuss the details of the contract question. It was a time when I was not well; the club, the coach, my teammates, I heard from all of them and they showed that they wanted me to stay here. For me the most important thing is to keep working and to be at 100% as soon as possible to help the coach and Roma."
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Lorenzo Pellegrini has said his one-year contract was a decision made by the club, which he accepted, and that Gian Piero Gasperini has been fundamental to his situation. The midfielder spoke at a press conference on the eve of Roma's match against Slovan Bratislava, after a long spell out of action. Both outlets report that he said he feels good and calm, and that his return required time to rebuild his fitness.
Retesport says Pellegrini had been out for six months and that he can still raise his physical level. GialloRossi.net adds that it was harder at first because he was not yet at his teammates' level, and that he described the group as exceptional and united. Retesport puts his summer without a club at a month and a half and quotes him calling it serene, with constant contact with the coach and staff. Asked whether anyone had called him, he said yes, but that feeling well came first and his priority was staying in Rome.
Pellegrini described Gasperini's role as decisive, saying that last year parting ways had seemed almost normal before the two found the right path together. Retesport reports that they did not discuss contract details, and that he heard from the club, coach and teammates that they wanted him to stay. GialloRossi.net alone reports that he said he could play in midfield or as a trequartista, but would never be a full-back.
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Testo Originale / Source Text
“Lorenzo Pellegrini, alla vigilia di Roma-Slovan Bratislava, ha parlato in conferenza stampa.
Sono stati sei mesi lunghi. Cosa ha portato la scelta di firmare un rinnovo di un anno“Sto molto bene, sono tranquillo mentalmemente. Si lavora fisicamente, ovviamente il fatto di non essere in campo per…”
Read the full article in Italian at Retesport.
