Roma defender Gianluca Mancini wants to adopt Francesco Totti’s ‘mindset’ and insists he’s happy with the Giallorossi: ‘I love the city and the club.’
The Italian defender is expected to start on Thursday in the second leg of the Europa League knockout playoff against Porto.
He was subbed off in Sunday’s game against Parma due to a minor injury, but he has fully recovered.
“It was a hard knock, but I’ve recovered. Everything is fine,” Mancini said at a press conference on Wednesday via TMW.
His contract runs out in 2027, and Mancini sees himself at Roma in the coming years.
“This year, the team feels like a family. I’ve never seen a group like this,” he said.
“This year, the team feels like a family. I’ve never seen a group like this,” he said.
“I feel great here in Rome; I love this city and this club. The fans appreciate me, and that makes me want to give even more. I’m really happy here.”
Roma will meet Athletic Club or city rivals Lazio in the Round of 16.
“It doesn’t make a difference. I know the derby is a possibility. But inside the dressing room, we are only thinking about tomorrow’s match,” Mancini argued.
“Whatever comes next, we’ll deal with it then. The only thing that matters right now is tomorrow. It’s an important match. In recent years, Roma have played many of these kinds of games. It’s a do-or-die match. There needs to be the right amount of tension to approach a big game against a great team and advance to the next round.”
“We played against Porto last week. They are a strong team,” the defender continued.
“Last week, I had Omorodion to deal with, and tomorrow, we’ll analyze the characteristics of whoever I’ll be facing. Based on that, I’ll prepare as best as possible. The videos our staff sends us will help us understand our opponent and how we should approach the game.”
Mancini has had a better attitude towards referees this season, collecting fewer yellow cards than in previous campaigns.
“In terms of yellow cards and excessive protests, I’ve improved,” he admitted.
“I looked at myself in the mirror and realized I couldn’t afford to miss three or four games a year due to excessive protests. When the coach arrived, he told me not to argue with the referees. A yellow card conditions a defender’s game. What’s the next step? I have a thousand steps to take.
“Right now, I’m focusing on improving my reading of the game and my quickness in movement. If a teammate is struggling, maybe I need to shout to motivate him, or maybe some players need something different. A footballer’s development never stops. Even Totti, a legendary player, and I’m not comparing myself to him, was still learning at 41. That’s the mindset to have.”
What has Claudio Ranieri brought to Roma since his appointment?
“As I’ve said many times, when the coach walked into the dressing room, it was like my body relaxed,” said Mancini.
“He didn’t need introductions. He has coached champions and great teams. Now, everyone has their own role, and he has worked on the concept of unity, staying together. He has brought a lot from his experience. There were no smiles or sense of calm in the weeks before he arrived. First and foremost, you need to be happy to come to training. If you’re not calm and focused, results don’t come. Now, we are starting to see results. We haven’t achieved anything yet, but we are making progress.”
