AS Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi has pleaded with fans to be patient with their new-look team.

An ultras group waited for the team at the train station after their 3-0 defeat to Fiorentina and staged a protest, demanding his resignation.

"Arriving in the top three would be like a sporting miracle. I'm not going to lie," confessed De Rossi on Sky Sport Italia.

"It is difficult to talk about objectives and where we could finish by the end of the season, because so many things have changed.

"Don't forget Luciano Spalletti also brought something new to Roma and got the team playing great football.

"The thing that makes me optimistic is that with Spalletti we really got into gear after Christmas. This is why I say Luis Enrique needs time.

"We must continue along this path and keep working to achieve that identity we're looking for.

"The results aren't what we wanted at this stage, but we are a new team and it does take time."