AS ROMA NEWS – Artem Dovbyk was interviewed by today’s edition of Il Messaggero, opening up to the public for the first time since he arrived in Italy. The Ukrainian addressed several topics: from the difficult acclimatization to Serie A, the change of three coaches to technical-tactical problems and the love and passion of the people of Rome. Below are all his statements:
He has been in Italy for six months now, overcoming the initial difficulties?
“It has not been easy these months, with a new league to face, three coaches changed, new tactics to learn and some physical problems. Now I am understanding Italian soccer better than before and I hope things can get better.”
Speaking of which, we learned that in December he also had growth factors for knee issues. How is he doing? Has it resolved?
“This is the first year I’ve played so much, on three fronts. Our medical staff did everything to help me, and now after treatment I feel much better. I played injured, not 100 percent, and I took the field anyway, it was my erroге, I should have rested but I felt the need to be with the team in difficult times. Now, however, I feel good.”
Did he have more problems with the language or on the field?
“The language of soccer is universal. I came to Italy after my experience in Spain, where a completely different kind of soccer is played. Now I am beginning to understand Serie A, you play more man-to-man, with aggressive and compact defenses, it is difficult to juggle. It’s not easy to play against three opposing defenders in the box. It’s part of an adjustment path.”
But is it possible that from De Rossi to Ranieri, via Juric, they all say that “the team must learn to serve Artem better”? Is it really that difficult?
“Good question. In training we work on it and everything works well. In the game it’s different. I, for example, 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’s different, with Girona I used to get very low and start almost on the midfield line. Now I’m asked to do different things, like go pressing on the opponent’s central, free up spaces for teammates, make the team go up behind the goal. I try to do what the coach tells me.”
The most beautiful goal scored in Italy and the most sensational opportunity missed?
“The mistake is the one with Eintracht a few hours ago (laughs). I wanted to score on Angeliño’s ball but everything happened quickly, it was not easy. I had to place myself differently, I was ahead with my body even though in my opinion he wanted to shoot, it was not an assist. The most beautiful goal? Maybe the one with Monza or the one with Udinese.”
The one against Athletic Bilbao was not bad either.
“Yes, good, that one too. Nice pass… Here, a few more crosses, especially of that kind, I wouldn’t mind getting them.”
There is a statistic that sees her in 15 out of 29 competitions having taken at most one shot on goal. Isn’t that too little?
“Indeed… It also depends, however, on the supplies that come in, these are situations where you have to be at the right time in the right place. Maybe sometimes we make good crosses but they are not in the area, sometimes they are in the area and we make bad crosses, It happens.”
Some people juxtapose you with Dzeko. Does it please or annoy you?
“I know there is this comparison. I spoke with Edin before coming here and he explained how difficult it is to be a striker in Rome. It is a city that lives soccer 24 hours a day and the fans want you to score in every game. I understand that, I expected that, even Dzeko had some problems in his first season. I have learned a lot in these months and I am confident.”
How do you experience this pressure?
“I don’t read much. Shevchenko always advised me to act naturally. I understood that Rome is soccer. Here there is radio, TV, newspapers, I behave like a normal person, I love my work and I give my best.”
Do you read social media?
“Sometimes, but I don’t get into reading comments or anything because I know it doesn’t help. Also because otherwise I would have to read all the people who are mad at me for this damn fantasy soccer. According to them I should score two goals a game.”
Since she reads little newspapers and listens even less to the radios, then we tell her the criticisms she gets. They are mainly two: first, the fact that she only uses her left foot and then that she never smiles, even when she scores.
“But it is not true that I never laugh. From today you can also confirm that I smile, I joke, I am a guy who likes to laugh. Or do I? The problem is that when I play I show another part of me, I am another Artem. I am an honest person, I don’t like to celebrate too much for unimportant games. With Parma I scored the fifth goal inside the goal, it was not the case to celebrate. I do what I feel at that moment, spontaneously. In Udine, on the other hand, I cheered 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 among them, have told me to shoot with my right as well. You may not believe it, but I kick probably better with the right than with the left. I know, I am aware of that but then the competition comes and I do everything with my left. Among other things, making mistakes because the defenders know it by now. I trust in a gamble.”
To wit.
“With Ranieri’s deputy: by the end of the season I will score two goals with my right foot.”
On Sunday she faces another left-handed doc, Lukaku. Many thought they would see a new Romelu in you again, but instead who do you feel you could resemble?
“Maybe I am 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 needed, I adapt to the way the team plays, to what they ask of me. If I can help by protecting the ball and marshalling, that’s fine with me. Of course, I repeat, if a lot of balls come in with crosses I have more chances to score, after all I am a striker.”
Does Roma consider it an end point in his career?
“I signed a long contract and I want to win trophies for the fans and for the club that is great and important in Italy. I played in Spain but it is not like here in Rome, there is an incredible atmosphere, with the stadium full every game, it is no coincidence that we do better at the Olimpico. Then in soccer you never know where you will be in the future.”
Does he feel loved in Rome?
“When I walk around the city, I feel strongly the affection of the people, even here in front of Trigoria. Roma people love me.”
We know that you dislike talking about the war in Ukraine. We ask you for an exception. What is the situation like? Can the election of Trump politically change anything in the conflict?
“The situation is obviously not good, my family is there, for my father, mother and grandmother that is home. I tried to take them away with me, first to Spain, now to
Italy but there is nothing to do. They have been living there for over 50 years and they want to stay there. Unfortunately, I live a different life than the others: every morning I wake up and call to make sure that everything is quiet, that my parents are okay, that nothing special has happened, attacks or anything like that. For me… No, sorry, I can’t go on” (she gets emotional).
Okay, back to talking about soccer. Shall we take a step back? In moving to Rome, were the Friedkins decisive?
“I don’t deny that talking with them, with Ryan especially, was crucial.”
And De Rossi?
“With Daniele the understanding was very good and it took him very little to convince me. He had faith in me and I believed in him a lot. It was difficult for me when he left.”
With Ranieri, however, what is your relationship?
“He seems a bit like our grandfather, he is very calm, but when the team needs to be spurred on and needs a jolt, he knows how to do it very well. He is a very good 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 it if he stayed on the bench.”
Do you know that there is a possibility of two more derbies in the Europa League?
“Yes, I saw but first we have to overcome Porto and it won’t be easy. Of course, it would be nice. The derby in the first leg was enough for me to understand how it is really a different match from the others. At the Olimpico that night I felt the best atmosphere in a stadium in my life. And good things, they should be experienced, always.”
Source: The Messenger
Article DOVBYK: “I played injured. I would like to have a few more crosses and for Ranieri to stay. Dzeko? He told me it was tough here…” comes from Giallorossi.net, exclusive news, news and soccer market.
