De Rossi explains Svilar and Baldanzi changes for Roma

Daniele De Rossi explains why he has chosen to shake up the Roma squad against Frosinone, including Tommaso Baldanzi’s first start and dropping Rui Patricio for Mile Svilar.

It kicks off at the Stadio Stirpe at 17.00 GMT.

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s five Serie A games on the LIVEBLOG.

The Giallorossi were in action in Rotterdam on Thursday with a creditable 1-1 Europa League play-off draw against Feyenoord.

It is becoming increasingly tight in the battle for a top four finish, especially after Bologna beat Lazio to catch Atalanta, while Fiorentina stumbled again in a draw away to Empoli.

“I like the way Paredes is playing, I see a lot of my idea of football in his characteristics, so I hope he continues playing like this, but I am satisfied with all the midfielders,” De Rossi told DAZN.

Baldanzi arrived in the January transfer window and gets his first start this evening in the trequartista role supporting centre-forward Romelu Lukaku. What advice does De Rossi give him?

“I don’t need to tell him too much. He was signed to become the future starter of Roma and in my view of the Nazionale too. He was a little timid at first, as is natural moving from a small town to a metropolis like Rome, not to mention a bigger club with very different demands.

“Fortunately, that shyness was shaken off very quickly. In the squad rotation, he has to be present, as he is a very important player and I have no concerns.”

A surprising change this evening is the decision to start Svilar in goal rather than Rui Patricio, but reports suggest this is not due to any fitness issues or rotation.

This represents another shift from the Jose Mourinho era, after De Rossi already changed tactics from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1.

“Both goalkeepers are very good, at this moment I see Svilar in good shape, so I want to give him a little confidence and stability. This is why he is playing.”