AS ROMA, Florenzi: "Happy to be back here"

© foto di Giuseppe Celeste/Image Sport

As Roma midfielder, Alessandro Florenzi , spoke to journalists in the press room in Irdning after this morning's training session.

RETURN
If I'm back here with Roma this season it's because the coach and the club wanted me. And I'm very happy to be here. I must keep up the good work I've been doing over the last few weeks.
AMBITIONS
Do I feel my career is set for take-off after being voted Serie B's best player last year along with Verratti and Insigne? I think the numbers speak for themselves: all three of us did very well on the pitch last season. In fact I want to take this opportunity to thank Crotone and my former team-mates there because I owe my performances to them as well.
YOUNGSTERS
It's difficult for us youngsters to find space in Italy and you don't always get much playing time in the top flight. Here at Roma the coach has faith in lots of us. There are plenty of good young players in the team - people like Bojan, Lamela and Pjanic. We have to give everything we can week in week out to show we deserve a game, then those that perform best will get their chance. At the end of the day it's up to Zeman to decide what's best for the team.
ADVICE
I'm trying to take on board all the advice we're getting from the more experienced players. What's it like working with De Rossi? He told me to play the easy pass and to keep calm, and that by playing together over time you find the right balance.
LOCAL BOY
What does it mean to be one of the Romans in this team? It's an incredible feeling. I was born here and I'm a Roma fan so I feel a real sense of responsibility.
SERIE B EXPERIENCE
Was dropping down to Serie B last year the right choice? That's how things work in the transfer market and in my case it turned out very well. If I'd stayed here last year, I probably wouldn't have got many games. So going to Crotone was the right move to help me learn the ropes. Fortunately I had the chance to play regular first-team football and I enjoyed myself there. It's on the strength of that experience that I'm here now. The club and the coach want me to be here and I'm going to make the most of the opportunity.
POSITION
I played in midfield at Crotone and I've always played there for Italy's youth teams so I think I can do the same here. I feel it's my best position. But if I'm asked to play at full-back or on the wing I'll do it with just the same commitment.
PERSONAL TARGET
Obviously my personal target is to play as much as possible. But that's going to depend on how well I perform and how hard I work.
ZEMAN
Has the boss given me any particular instructions? No, just the same things he's said to all the midfielders. I feel at home with his training methods. We're starting to see the benefits of the intense work we did at the beginning. I've never been through a pre-season like this before but I'm glad I've done it. We're doing well and it's important that we keep going now.
NEW SIGNINGS
Have the new signings had problems adjusting to Zeman's workloads? No, they've all looked good, even Piris. I expected De Rossi and Balzaretti to be in good shape because they were involved in the Euros and haven't been out of action for too long. They've all come to this training camp looking determined to do well.
US TOUR
What did I think of the US tour? It was great. We didn't expect to see so much passion from the fans there or so many people at our games. Stepping out into a stadium in the United States and seeing it full of people cheering for Roma was an amazing experience.