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Sunday's game at the Stadio Olimpico gets underway at 20:45 CET.
Here are the key lines you need to know from the coach's comments.
On the team news...
“Today Daniele De Rossi and Patrik Schick will have a final fitness test – they could be in the squad. I’m optimistic and hope they both make it, particularly De Rossi because we’ve got few players available at the moment in central midfield. He certainly won’t start but he could be an option while the game is in progress.”
On the opportunity Gerson could get tomorrow...
“The two goals he scored at Fiorentina were by no means a flash in the pan. He needs to improve his reading of the game and spend less time holding the ball. He’s improving, becoming more consistent and more focused in games.
"I’m really pleased with how he’s come on. He will definitely play tomorrow and I hope he puts in a good display, both defensively and offensively.”
On the struggles in attack...
“The team is being creative – they have an identity and know what’s required of them. But we need to rediscover that ruthlessness and be more clinical in front of goal. The only way we can lessen the psychological burden is to score goals. After his goal against Verona, Cengiz Under was impressive with his goal-scoring in training this week. Edin Dzeko needs to break his duck – a lucky goal would do.”
On Champions League qualification...
“Our aim must be to qualify – it’s one of our primary objectives. We need to do our best in the competition we’re in too – we’re working towards the two-legged tie with Shakhtar Donetsk. Speaking about aims beyond third place in the league is difficult, given the gap with the top two.”
On the possibility of Gregoire Defrel as a trequartista...
“He’s played that role in other games, such as Sassuolo v Roma two seasons ago. He did well and has the qualities needed for that job, but there are other alternatives. I’ll decide today who takes that position, and they’ll have a different task to Radja Nainggolan’s against Verona. We also have Diego Perotti who can play there, he’s familiar with playing centrally. He’s at his best when he gets players one-on-one and he needs to find space between the lines. We worked on this during the week.”
On the decision to leave out Bruno Peres...
“We dealt with this incident in the same way we previously did with Nainggolan. The difference is in how these players are viewed. To grow we need be pulling in the same direction. We and the club decided to fine the player and leave him out of the squad. To get the right mental approach, you need to deal with these incidents. I hope we don’t have any more of them. It’s up to my players’ intelligence and professionalism. These errors of judgement are unacceptable at this level and I hope it doesn’t happen again.”
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