Di Francesco: I want to see the team go up a level against Spurs

Roma are looking to improve following last week's 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain in Detroit, as they face Premier League opposition at the Red Bull Arena.

Di Francesco believes the past week of training in Boston will show when the two teams go out on the pitch.

“We have managed to get a bit of training in our legs, but there is still a lot to work on,” Di Francesco said. “But I like the great willingness the guys have shown to try and learn my approach.”

From the outside, we are seeing a lot of focus from the guys...

“I think that this in particular can always make the difference. Learning every detail can help them to have extra confidence in certain situations. It is what we are doing right now, mixing things up with a lot of intensity and avoiding dead moments.”

Are you satisfied with the work that’s been done so far?

“I’m happy but to be satisfied will take a bit more time. There is still a lot to work on but I knew this before we started. This squad can grow a lot as a collective and an offensive unit.”

Have the internationals adjusted quickly?

“Certainly they have individual qualities that are important for us. Before they got here I spoke to them all, I asked them to follow a specific five-day training program. They arrived in the right shape: which was necessarily because three days after they arrived we played Paris Saint-Germain. There were a few things from that to figure out, but in terms of the attitude shown during the game I was very happy.”

What do you expect from the match against Tottenham?

“I expect us to show growth from a tactical point of view, and in terms of the solidity of the team. I also hope to see some more fluid attacking moves, something which we didn’t really see in the first half against PSG – although that is normal.”

Should we expect a lot of rotation over the course of the season?

“We should start with this sort of thought in mind. In football it is easier to train when you are always playing. We have to be good at keeping everyone ready and able to come in and play an important role. Physically, it is almost impossible to play every game and we have to take this into account. We will try to have a number of players operating at the same level within the squad.”

The club and the sporting director have been working very well in this regard. We want to improve the group, having a few players for each role in a way that increases our competitiveness.”

During this period are you also spending a lot of time with the young players here?

“I don’t know another way to train. All the guys here at my disposition are training like starters. That is my mentality and that is what I try to transmit to them. So when a young player shows that he has the ability to play with the seniors, I am convinced that sooner or later I will be able to give him an opportunity.”