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The Italy international - captain for the night - scored the game's opening goal on his return to first-team football, after 10 months on the sidelines.
You scored on your return to the team and the fans gave you a massive show of support...
"Yes, but today it was all about supporting Chapecoense and helping them after the tragedy they suffered. They've picked themselves up brilliantly.
"In any case, I'm glad to be back. It was about time – I've had far too much rest!"
You played 75 minutes today. How's your fitness coming along?
“I'm working day in day out to get myself back up there. Obviously I'm not 100% yet or I'd be superman. But I'm in good enough shape to do my bit for the team. Obviously it's up to the gaffer to decide how, when and how long he wants me to play. He and the fitness staff know how much I've got in me.”
Have you spoken to Eusebio Di Francesco about your position?
“We haven't really, to be honest. He told me to focus on getting myself fit first and then he'd see about where to play me. I'm here for him and I'm happy to play wherever he wants to put me.
"The main thing is we all think about and do what's best for Roma, not ourselves.”
How close to full fitness do you feel? Do you prefer playing at full-back or higher up the pitch?
“I'm not 100% but I feel better by the day. I'm ready to give all for the Roma cause.
"As for my position, I feel it's somewhere between the two.”
Where will you watch the Spain v Italy game tomorrow?
“I'll be at home with my Italy scarf. We've got the players and the ability and we have to believe we can pull it off.
"I spoke to Daniele [De Rossi] earlier and he wished me well for this game. He's one of the people who have most supportive to me over last ten months and I'm very grateful to him. I'll call him tomorrow to wish him and Italy the best of luck.”
Now that 'capitan futuro' [De Rossi] is 'capitan presente', are you the new capitan futuro?
“I haven't thought about that much really as I've been focusing on recovering. The last ten months haven't been as easy as you might think because I've carried on smiling and joking – that's the way I am. But deep down inside, I've felt a lot of sadness and harboured a tremendous desire to get back out there. That's finally happened now and it went well. I'm back on track and I want to stay on it this time.”
Do you think Di Francesco might move away from 4-3-3 now that Schick has joined?
“You'd have to ask that to the man himself. Our job is to be open to his ideas and try to put them into practice. It's starting to come together now. Regardless of the formation, it's up to us players to show what we're capable of.”
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