Hummels on adapting to Roma: “At first it was complicated.” | OneFootball

Roma defender Mats Hummels was recently interviewed by Lega Serie A about his experience in the Italian capital this season.

“I was looking for an experience, an adventure, something I hadn’t experienced before to get out of my comfort zone and that’s exactly what happened,” said Hummels when asked about his decision to move to Italy’s top flight after so many years in the Bundesliga.

“There were difficult moments and very beautiful ones, even in difficulties you have to remain yourself and at this moment I think that both personally and as a team we are achieving something. It’s very nice to be here in Rome,” said the ex-Borussia defender.

“I had already been to Rome a few times privately and we had also come here with the national team, so I knew the city and I knew how wonderful it was. Obviously I had to experience something new on a cultural level, but I discovered that I like to discover different cultures and for this reason I think I adapted well.”

“The only problem for me at the beginning was the traffic, it’s crazy, but I got used to it and I feel very good here.”

“Having three coaches in one season was obviously very difficult. I came here after talking to Daniele De Rossi about the style of play, how we wanted to play and also about my role. Then he was with me for less than two weeks. We went to a completely different style of play, very careful against the ball and basically aimed at destroying the opponents’ game with Juric.”

“Now with Ranieri we are focusing more on our strengths, the good players we have, obviously adding a defensive idea that I feel good about. I think my strengths or at least part of them are playing with the ball at my feet and having an influence on the team.”

“Ranieri? He brought a natural authority, he is calm and a good person but he is also tough when necessary. He is consistent with what he wants to see from his players and his decisions with who he plays with. He behaved like this with me too, but I have never had a problem with this. I always respect him, because I know he does everything to make the team win.”

“He expects a lot from the team, but he also has a group that is professional and works very well. I think the combination between coach and group works very well.”

“Italian football is different from German football, there are a lot of man-to-man duels on the pitch. Some teams in the Bundesliga do it, but my teams had never done it. This was definitely something new, but you also get used to this style of play. These are small things, in the end football is football.”

On his debut in the 5-1 loss to Fiorentina, Hummels remarked, “Personally it was bad, but also for the team since we hadn’t won many games and we weren’t playing well. I always take things like that with irony, I lived that period almost ironically because it was clear to me that if I had continued to train and work my chance would have come by force. I always believe in this. That’s why the debut was quite bitter, obviously. I was at least relieved by the fact that the own goal hadn’t had a significant impact on the result and that the game was already lost.”

“Of course, the start was as bad as it could have been. It’s a cliché, but when it rains the sun always comes out and it was clear to me that things would have gone better.”

On the bond between Roma fans and the team, “I see it every time, at the training ground and at the stadium. I see it all over the city. Everyone is a Roma fan. I say ‘Forza Roma’ or ‘Daje Roma’ to anyone I meet on the street, when I’m out and about. People on Tuesday afternoons in Trastevere always get emotional when you talk about Roma, this is spectacular and above all I can compare it to Dortmund, there too the people are very passionate and enthusiastic about football. I love this thing, this connection between the fans and the club.”