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Did the Verona match show how good this squad really is?
"It was a great performance because the team implemented the things we usually work on in training. We’ve struggled a bit in our other games, but that’s been more down to how well our opponents have played and there’s been constant improvement throughout."
How worried are you that your team might underestimate the Benevento game?
"I can assure you that Benevento are by no means a lost cause. They didn’t deserve to lose the game before the Napoli match [against Torino]. They deserved a draw or perhaps even more against both Samp and Torino. They will be motivated and I think they’ll probably go with a 4-4-2 formation. We mustn’t underestimate them – we have to get a positive result. We can’t afford to take Benevento too lightly. They’ve shown they deserve to be here."
How is Maxime Gonalons getting on?
"I wanted to play Gonalons against Samp in Genoa, but then I decided on different players for the other games. I think the time has come for him to start tomorrow. He’s really come on in terms of getting to grips with the way we play. Personally, aside from the technical side of the game I expect a central midfielder to give the team real balance. I’m sure that he’ll make a big contribution and show that he’s the same player we saw at Lyon."
How are Radja Nainggolan and Patrik Schick?
"Radja is almost certainly out of the game and it’s very likely that he’ll stay in Rome. We hope to have him back for Saturday. He has some tendon pain in the back of his leg and just needs to let it die down, but he’s very likely to be out. I think I’ll be able to get him back for Udinese. The intensity is really high in every game we play and I work them hard in training during the week, so it’s to be expected that it all takes a bit of a toll. In terms of Schick, he hadn’t even done five training sessions with Sampdoria when he joined Roma and he wasn’t ready to play. I coach him, I observe him and I know what his issues are. We will certainly have to keep an eye on the discomfort he’s feeling over the next few days. First and foremost I hope he can train – then we can get him back playing and in the best shape possible. You can see that’s he’s not firing on all cylinders just yet, but I brought him on because that’s the only way to see what state a player is really in."
Can you justifiably start Alessandro Florenzi or do you need to handle him with care?
"You’re trying to trick me into revealing my team! Alessandro has just come back from a long spell on the sidelines and too many games in quick succession could be risky. I think we’re better off using him as an option off the bench rather than from the start, with a view to him being in the side to face Udinese. It would be a big risk to start him in this fixture."
Can Edin Dzeko play every game or will Gregoire Defrel get the nod at centre forward for the first time?
"They’re both possible options but not in this match. I think I want to keep trying to play a certain way. Dzeko had a number of shots against Verona and the goal gave him a confidence boost, which is why he’ll start."
Do you see Patrik Schick more as a centre forward or out wide?
"To be honest I’ve picked him at centre forward in training but that’s down to his fitness levels because it’s less physically taxing. It would have been big had he scored. I try to pick players where they can flourish. He can play either with Edin or Defrel. I give a lot of thought to how I can get the best out of the players I have available."
Lots of people have Roma out of the title race. How important would it be to go on a run before the trip to AC Milan?
"That’s all just needless speculation. I hope we can prove them wrong. We’ve only played three matches and we must simply focus on tomorrow. It’s important to win the game. We lost momentum by not playing at Sampdoria."
Massimiliano Allegri has claimed you need 90 points to win the title, do you agree?
"Whatever your points haul, what matters is winning it. Our 87 points last season was a great effort but records don’t matter, trophies do."
Marco Baroni has called on the fans to make themselves heard and could change formation. However there will be 1,500 travelling fans from Rome. Does that mean that there’s a buzz around your side?
"The passion’s always been there but for Roma, not Roma under Di Francesco. I heard great support when the going got tough against Atletico Madrid. You can tell that people are behind us and positive. As for Benevento’s shape, what matters is our approach and our will to win. We must be aggressive from the word go."
People claimed you were intransigent, a Zdenek Zeman disciple and that you didn’t do enough defensively yet you’ve already changed system three times...
"I’m Di Francesco – end of. I act based on what I see. Against Atletico I was only focused on preparing the game and being in the contest. I do a lot defensively by working with a unit that moves as one even when defending. We scored our first goal against Verona by winning the ball back from a throw-in. People who think I neglect that side of the game are greatly mistaken."
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