New Roma boss calls for patience in new era

TRIGORIA, Italy (AFP) - The new Roma owner Thomas DiBenedetto called on supporters on Thursday to show some patience as he and new coach Luis Enrique try to build a "new era" for the club.

"The fans must be patient, Roma wasn't built in a day," the American businessman said at a press conference at the Serie A team's training ground.

"We have a huge amount of top quality talent, but some of it is still very young and young players make mistakes. It will take patience.

"A new era is just about to begin, an era which will change the way football is played, with new management, an ambition and a dream which the fans will share.

"This dream will take some time to come true, but it's a dream which all of us will work for and we'll give it everything we've got."

Roma finished sixth last season, 19 points behind champions AC Milan, prompting the new owner to bring in Barcelona B coach Enrique as head coach.

It is Enrique's first experience at this level and he was grateful to DiBenedetto for the breathing space.

"Thank you to the president for giving us time, for removing the pressure," said Enrique.

"It's a real cultural shift. You cannot be ready in one hour, one day, one month. But I am optimistic."

Enrique, however, was quick to play down the idea that he would turn Roma into Barcelona overnight.

"I am not here to implement the Barcelona model because you need years for this, but I do believe in the idea of attacking football," he said.

"We have to implement a way of playing that suits the players."

Enrique also rejected comparisons with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

"I am still a long way from succeeding, even though the comparison game seems to interest a lot of journalists," he said.

DiBenedetto said that the changes at Roma would not just come on the field; he wants the club to change off it as well.

"We need people to enjoy coming to the stadium, eating at the stadium, and often it does not work out like that in Italy," he said.

"The club must develop opportunities with new social media. That is just part of what we want to change in Rome."

One of his long-term plans is to provide the club with its own stadium, rather than using the Olympic Stadium in Rome.

He has also laid the ground for England coach Fabio Capello's number two Franco Baldini to join the club after England's Euro 2012 qualifying campaign finishes in October.