Fit-again Strootman wants 'to win them all'
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
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After two injury-cursed seasons, Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman is back doing what he does best with Luciano Spalletti's trophy-chasing Roma.
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Netherlands midfielder Kevin Strootman has already made more Roma appearances this season than in the last two campaigns combined. Certainly, as he targets domestic and European success with the Giallorossi, the knee problems which afflicted him since spring 2014 appear firmly in the past.
Here the 26-year-old former PSV player speaks about his restoration to a Roma side already eyeing a tilt at the knockout rounds after topping UEFA Europa League Group E.
On life in Rome ...
The city is great, life is great and the football too. When you win a match here, the passion of the people is very special. It's my first time abroad and when you get to live in a city like Rome, it's amazing. And playing for a club like AS Roma is fantastic – the fans and the people who work here are so passionate.
On his injury-riddled last two seasons ...
It was a really difficult time, especially because I had three operations – particularly the last one. Just when you think you're doing better, they say something still isn't right and you need another operation. But immediately after the third one, I felt 'OK, let's get this done' and everyone at the club supported me. Now I have to forget what happened and look forward.
On whether the injuries have changed him ...
Perhaps. I always try to be as fit as possible, even more so than before, because there's always a chance of another injury. So I'm always working on that, doing exercises before training and afterwards in the gym, working with the medical staff.
On his never-say-die attitude ...
I hate losing, you can see that on the pitch, and it's always been like that. Everyone has that, but you can really see it in my face and in how I walk and act. But off the pitch I'm much calmer, fortunately.
On being compared to a washing machine (he receives 'dirty' passes and supplies 'clean' ones) ...
It was a compliment from our former coach Rudi Garcia and they still call me that now; it was more of a joke but in the end the fans started using it. Rudi Garcia was the coach who signed me and I worked really happily with him for almost two years.
On life under Luciano Spalletti ...
Perhaps Spalletti does more tactical work, but that's the only difference compared with Garcia. They're both top coaches who can get a team to play very well in attack while also making sure everyone knows their place defensively. My relationship with Spalletti is good – I'm playing a lot and he was very supportive when I was injured. We've had some great results and we hope that continues.
On Roma's UEFA Europa League campaign ...
A club like Roma belong in the Champions League, but the Europa League is also a great competition. The further we go it could get even better. It's a trophy we want to win and so finishing first in our group was always the goal. December will be a tough month in Serie A, so we're glad we're through to the next round as group winners.
On his ambitions for 2016/17 ...
There's no need to differentiate between the league and the Europa League, we want to win them all – the cup included. Of course it will be difficult, the Europa League perhaps even more so because all the teams that come from the Champions League are really good. We've all seen this competition on TV. We just hope to go as far as possible.