Daniele De Rossi has professed that he plays to his role, which is neither the best thing since sliced bread nor utter garbage.

De Rossi was addressing the press at the Adidas Store on Via del Corso in the Italian capital, Rome.

When asked of his opinion about Claudio Ranieri saying that he is playing to many minutes, De Rossi said: "Everyone makes their own judgements.

"My moment is similar to that of the team. I don't make the difference, but I am not the dead wood of this Roma side.

"Ranieri wants to protect me from the criticism, but I have always played like this.

"It's not a particularly brilliant moment for me, but I have never been a phenomenon who wins games for Roma or Italy," De Rossi concluded.