Enrique no ´dictator´ over Osvaldo punishment

Roma coach Luis Enrique believes he is no dictator, defending the decision to fine and suspend striker Pablo Osvaldo.

The Italy striker was banned for 10 days for punching team-mate Erik Lamela after November 25’s 2-0 defeat to Udinese in the Serie A, meaning Osvaldo will miss Sunday’s trip to face Fiorentina.

“The easiest thing to do would have been just to impose a fine and take a bit of money off the player, but that’s just not possible,” the coach told reporters on Saturday.

“It would have been better for us to have Osvaldo in Florence tomorrow but he won’t be there. I don’t want events like this to be repeated in the future.”

“I am not a dictator. Osvaldo is the striker who has played the most this season but Roma are a group and everyone must understand there are rules that must be respected. Those rules apply to everybody.”

The defeat to Udinese leaves the club in seventh place in Serie A, with the former Barcelona B coach under pressure due to Roma’s off-season spending.

But the 41-year-old believes the team’s supporters are behind him and the team and claimed he is not met any fans who want to see him dismissed.

“The newspapers may say some things but I’ve never heard a bad word when meeting the fans. We know the results count, but I don’t try to be either popular or unpopular. I just try to be myself and do my work,” Enrique said.

“Undoubtedly there are leaders, but I don’t want to talk about individuals. I have to simply make my choices thinking about the team. Those who don’t play just have to work harder.”

Roma have lost five of their 12 league games this campaign, and they sit 10 points behind leaders AC Milan.