Totti comments on Mourinho, Zaniolo, Pellegrini and Abraham
The ex-Giallorossi captain revealed that Jose Mourinho “impressed” him, believes Nicolo Zaniolo “must mature” and hailed Lorenzo Pellegrini as well as Tammy Abraham.
Francesco Totti
, who hung up his boots in 2017 after 785 matches with
Roma, talked to
La Gazzetta dello Sport
about the Serie A side’s season so far.
The former Roma captain thinks the Giallorossi can “have their say” in the 2021-22 Serie A season, but insisted it is still too early.
“
We are only in the very early days, everything is still on the high seas,”
Totti told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“The same for Juve, who had a slow start. They will arrive.
“Roma and Napoli can do very well and much better than last season. There are no teams that will dominate the championship, all the big four or five can have their say.
“But let’s talk about it much later, three-quarters of a season at least.”
Jose Mourinho joined the club before the season started and managed five victories in a row.
“
The news is that he has chosen Roma,”
Totti said.
“He’s a flexible coach, who has won a lot, has charisma. He is undoubtedly a great character and motivator for the team.
“He has always been and remains an added value: both on the pitch and in the management of the group.
“He amazed me in his ability to get in tune with the environment immediately. He puts himself in front of everyone, acts as a lightning rod, and ability that in a city like Rome can be decisive.”
Nicolo Zaniolo has come back from two serious ACL injuries and the World Cup winner believes he needs time to mature before he is able to show his true potentials.
“
He’s young and returns from two serious injuries,”
Totti said.
“We all hope he will become a champion but he still has to prove a lot.
“For all that has happened to him, he must ‘help’ himself even more by training and working hard. He matures by growing up, he must also do it from a character and professional point of view, he surrounds himself with people who help him.
“What happens off the pitch in Rome is fundamental: he comes in front of everything. He has great prospects and can certainly have a great career. Let’s see in 10 years what level he will have reached.
“I repeat, I wish him only the best.”
Tammy Abraham joined from Chelsea and Totti insisted that he will “do well” at the Olimpico.
“
He’s a player at top level, he arrives from Chelsea,”
Totti continued.
“He’s young, he has the shots that haven’t been seen in Rome for a while and that have enthused the fans.
“He’s technically good and he’s a guy who fights, I’m sure that he will do well.”
Totti also hailed Pellegrini and sees him as a “worthy captain”.
“
I believe in Lorenzo Pellegrini. Roma and Rome understand the value of this lad,”
he said.
“He’s really strong and has all the moral skills needed to be a leader.
“He knows how to behave, he knows how to stay in his place, he’s humble. He’s a worthy captain.”
Totti was quizzed about Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who may beat the ex-Roma striker’s record in Europe, as he is the oldest player to have found the back of the net in Europe at 38, but soon-to-be-40 Ibrahimovic has a chance to break that record against Liverpool on Wednesday.
“
He will certainly beat my record. He has a different mentality from the others, he’s one of the strongest in the world and if a better one arrives, it’s right that he takes the record,”
Totti admitted.
“Records are made to be broken and, in this case, I would be really happy for him. He can still give a lot. He’s still in great shape, he will simply have to manage himself.
”
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