Genoa: A row in the press room over Daniele De Rossi: “You’re a loser”

Tensions ran high in the press conference for Daniele De Rossi, who was involved in a heated exchange with a reporter following Genoa’s loss to Lazio at the Olimpico. De Rossi snapped after a question from Augusto Sciscione, a reporter for Lazio TV: “Today, in the final minute, your team didn’t give the ball back to Lazio when Mandas clearly kicked it out of play to help Ostigard. I wanted to ask you: when you talk to us about values and sportsmanship, do you only say these things to us journalists, or do you also say them to your players?”

The Ligurian coach responded harshly: “What about your values when you talk about me on television or on that show of yours? You ask about my values, and I ask about yours. You know me very well, and I know very well who you are. I answered a question with a question. That’s not polite—just like everything you say about me,” said the former Roma captain.

The journalist’s retort came quickly: “My father taught me good manners. When I do my job, I do it in a professionally ethical manner. I express an opinion that you may not like, but I express an opinion. I’m paid to do so.”

“I’m not acting superior, and of course I know you,” De Rossi retorted, “because what you say about me and the places close to me, like Ostiamare, is absolutely awful. You’re always dragging me into this and talking about it in an unfair way. When I see you speaking on TV or on Instagram, I don’t consider you a journalist, so I won’t respond to you. Someone who insults, yells… You’re a bit obsessed with me, or maybe with Roma. “You’re a pathetic person,” the Rossoblù coach concluded sharply. The two then faced off in a private, one-on-one confrontation.