AS Roma has begun both domestic and European competitions brightly, beating Livorno, 2-0, in Serie A on Saturday and Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk, 4-0, in the Champions League yesterday. We are aiming to be the revelation of 2007,” stated Daniele De Rossi, Roma’s talented midfielder. “What you saw last night is the real Roma and we want similar results in the future.” De Rossi is the player who was sent off for elbowing Brian McBride in the face in Italy’s second game of the World Cup against the United States. This season, he’s scored against Livorno (cracking 23-yard effort) and Shakhtar. “Last year was very useful for us as we learned a lot and we are now a more balanced team,” he said. Last night’s performance saw the coming out of Roma’s biggest off-season signing, Chilean David Pizarro, who scored the final goal in the demolition of Shakhtar after underperforming against Livorno. De Rossi insists that his signing underscores Roma’s shrewdness in the summer transfer market, despite the club’s inability to sign a big-name international superstar. “We didn’t need Ronaldinho or Steven Gerrard,” he said. “The club’s summer market was well planned and based on the team’s needs.”