Roma boss Paulo Fonseca feels lucky to be the club’s new Coach and is demanding ‘bravery and quality’ from his players.
Fonseca was confirmed as Claudio Ranieri’s successor earlier in the month, fresh off winning three League titles with Shakhtar Donetsk, and will officially start work on Wednesday.
“To be Coach of Roma is a great, great pleasure and I’m very excited and motivated,” he told Roma TV.
Roma boss Paulo Fonseca feels lucky to be the club’s new Coach and is demanding ‘bravery and quality’ from his players.
Fonseca was confirmed as Claudio Ranieri’s successor earlier in the month, fresh off winning three League titles with Shakhtar Donetsk, and will officially start work on Wednesday.
“To be Coach of Roma is a great, great pleasure and I’m very excited and motivated,” he told Roma TV.
“It’s a big challenge, but I believe we can do great things together. When Roma called me, I was very excited.
“To coach Roma is a great thing and I didn’t think twice because to be coach of Roma, I think, is one of the main objectives of the most Coaches in Europe.
“Like I said, I’m very excited and motivated for building here something special and different with my idea.
“I believe we can do great things. Pallotta and I talked about everything, my ideas, the club, the ideas of the President.
“I think it was a great meeting, we spoke about everything and I felt the support of the President.
“I felt he was also very excited with everything, my ideas, and I loved how it went.
“The offices are very beautiful and new, there’s an amazing atmosphere. I’ve just got here and I’ll see the facilities at Trigoria but the first impression is amazing.
“First of all I’m more experienced now. It was a great experience in Ukraine, we had big success at Shakhtar and I feel this is a different challenge.
“Italian football is a different world to Ukraine, but I’m ready to start work and pass my ideas with more experience but also with big motivation.”
The Portuguese took his Shakhtar side to the Olimpico last year, where they lost 1-0 and went out of the Champions League last 16 on away goals.
“I remember everything very well about the Olimpico and the game. We lost 1-0 and it was difficult for me.
“I felt a great atmosphere at the stadium, and I hope I get to feel this atmosphere in every game.
“We’ll need it a lot, and I believe the fans will be there every game to support us like they did in that game.
“I have my ideas and I want to implement them, but the main thing is to build a brave team.
“That’s the main objective and I believe with these players, we can build a brave tram without any problems against the biggest teams, the small teams.
“I want to see courage in my players and also quality. First of all, they need to know my ideas and of course, we have to bring motivation.
“The players here have a lot of quality and I think with our way of playing, they will grow and improve, and so will the team.
“Like I said, I want brave players because it won’t be easy to play our game, but I believe a lot in the quality of these players. We can build a great team.”
Finally, the 46-year-old had a message for the club’s supporters.
“I want to say to the fans that we want to build something special, something they can be proud of in every game.
“We’ll need the support of the fans. Together we can build a great, great thing and make them proud.
“That’s the most important thing, but I think the supporters will be with the team.”