Dovbyk talks adapting to Serie A, Ranieri’s impact and more | OneFootball

Artem Dovbyk released a long interview to Il Messaggero where he talked about adapting to Italian football and becoming a key player for Roma.

In the interview, the Ukrainian striker reflected on his summer move to the capital and the ups and downs of the season so far.

“It hasn’t been easy these past few months, with a new league to face, three new coaches, new tactics to learn and some physical problems. Now I’m understanding Italian football better than before and I hope things can get better,” he told the newspaper shortly after Roma’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

“It’s the first year that I’ve played so much, on three fronts. Our medical staff did everything they could to help me and now after the treatments I feel much better.”

“For a while I played injured, not at 100 percent. It was my mistake, I should have rested but I felt the need to be with the team in difficult moments. Now, however, I feel good.”

“The language of football is universal. I came to Italy after my experience in Spain, where a completely different type of football is played. Now I’m starting to understand Serie A, it’s more man-to-man, with aggressive and compact defenses, it’s difficult to navigate.”

“It’s not easy to play against three opposing defenders in the area. It’s part of an adaptation process.”

“For example, I would like to make as many assists as the one for Dybala in Milan, but there is always little space around me. Here in Italy for a striker it is different, with Girona I dropped a lot and started almost on the midfield line. Now I am asked to do different things, like pressing the opponent’s centre-back, freeing up space for my teammates, making the team move up with their backs to the goal. I try to do what the coach tells me.”

“The comparison with Dzeko? I know this comparison exists. I spoke to Edin before coming here and he explained to me how difficult it is to be a striker in Rome. It is a city that lives football 24 hours a day and the fans want you to score in every game.”

“I understand it, I expected it, even Dzeko had some problems in his first season. I have learned a lot in these months and I am confident.”

“I don’t read the newspapers. Shevchenko always advised me to behave naturally. I understood that Rome is all about football. Here there are radio, TV, newspapers, I behave like a normal person, I love my job and I give my best.”

“It’s not true that I never laugh. From today you can also confirm that I smile, I kid around, I’m a guy who likes to laugh. Wouldn’t you say? The problem is that when I play I show another part of me, I’m another Artem. I’m an honest person, I don’t like to celebrate too much for unimportant matches.”

“Against Parma I scored the fifth goal of the night, there was no need to celebrate. I do what I feel at that moment, spontaneously. In Udine instead I celebrated for the penalty because it was important.”

“Do I only use my left foot? I know, it’s true. In training all the coaches I’ve had, and Ranieri is one of them, told me to shoot with my right foot too. Maybe you won’t believe it, but I probably kick better with my right than with my left. I know, I’m aware of it but then the match comes and I do everything with my left.”

“Lukaku? Maybe I’m a mix between him and Dzeko. I watched Lukaku in his first year at Inter, when he scored a lot of goals and made a lot of assists. I like his style, we have characteristics in common. Personally, if necessary, I adapt to the team’s way of playing, to what they ask of me. If I can help by protecting the ball and distributing it, that’s fine with me. Of course, I repeat, if a lot of balls arrive with crosses I have more chances of scoring, after all I’m a striker.”

“My move to Roma? I signed a long contract and I want to win trophies for the fans and for the club which is huge and important in Italy. I played in Spain but it’s not like here in Rome, there’s an incredible atmosphere, with the stadium full every game, it’s no coincidence that we do better at the Olimpico. Then in football you never know where you’ll be in the future.”

“When I walk around the city, I feel the strong affection of the people, even here in front of Trigoria. The Romanisti love me.”

“The Friedkins? Their involvement in the discussions was very important. With Ryan especially.”

“De Rossi? With Daniele the understanding was excellent and it took him little to convince me. He had faith in me and I believed in him a lot. It was difficult for me when he left.”

“Ranieri? He seems a bit like our grandfather, he is very calm, but when the team needs to be encouraged and needs a jolt, he knows how to do it very well. He is an excellent psychologist, he knows what to say at the right time, he also knows when silence is more useful. He is very important, I would like him to stay on the bench next year as well.”

“Facing Lazio in the Europa League? I saw it but first we have to beat Porto and it won’t be easy. Of course, it would be nice. The first leg derby was enough for me to understand how it is truly a different match from the others. At the Olimpico that night I perceived the best atmosphere in a stadium in my life. And beautiful things must be experienced, always.”