Spalletti's pre-derby press conference in full

On the eve of this game, is the level of excitement the same as before your first derby 12 years ago?

“Every time I’ve been involved there have been so many emotions – it’s the same today. The derby is a wonderful thing to play in and to experience. I enjoy that excitement and I think I’ve got a team here that gets excited too.

"It’s also for this reason that I’ve enjoyed being here – through those emotions you can express more, in different ways. You can communicate with greater force, more than you can with words alone. The derby is a wonderful thing. It’s something to be enjoyed and we will do on this occasion – both myself and the players.”

In the last two derbies, Lazio have tried to close down in the area in front of the midfielders; they’ve sat back and hit on the break. Do you think their approach will be the same tomorrow?

“I think so. [Simone] Inzaghi’s team has played with that kind of approach in other games, not just those two. It’s a tested approach, which seeks to bring out the qualities they have in their performances. The coach has done well to put all this together – focusing less on individuals but more on bolstering the collective approach. With the 3-5-2 formation, they are strong at the back, because they close down across the pitch, and they harness their ability to hit back and move into space.

"They’ve got players that cause problems when they get on the ball. They’ve done it throughout the season, just look at the way they play and where they are in the table. They’ve done great this year. It will be a similar game tomorrow.”

[Daniele] De Rossi is certainly a player who gets up for these games. Is he 100% recovered?

“If he shows us what he has done over the last few days in training, he’ll be fully recovered and a big player for us.”

[Massimiliano] Allegri and [Paulo] Dybala have said the title isn’t secured. They think Roma will get to 90 points. Would reaching that make you proud or frustrated?

“Clearly we need to keep doing our job for the rest of this league season. We’ve worked incredibly hard during this campaign. We won’t be leaving any stone unturned, especially because of how much work we’ve put in so far. Then we’ll need to objectively assess the distance between ourselves and Juventus at the end of the season.

"90 points is a massive tally. Last year we picked up 46 points in the second half of the season. I’ve sometimes heard [Claudio] Ranieri say he would have won the Scudetto if he was the Roma coach in the first two games of the season, before I left in 2009. I could easily respond by saying that if I’d arrived at the beginning of last season I would have won it, even though it wasn’t my team. My team is this season’s side. This is the way I wanted it, based on what was possible. A lot has been achieved and we’ve seen a great team produced.

"Getting that number of points would be a great achievement. If we manage to get second spot in the table, I think that’d be big for us, because Juventus have shown – even yesterday – that they are a really tough side, very strong, in some ways unstoppable. To rank behind a team that is vying to win the Champions League means we’ve done very well. The players have met expectations and have worked in a serious and professional manner. If we get to that points tally, we’ll have to congratulate them.”

Are you preparing for this derby as if it was the last?

“We have it in our hands to reach second spot, we cannot settle for anything less. Now we need to give our absolute best until the very end. We have all that is needed: the quality and the skill to get to that point. We have the keys to open that door to paradise. We’ll keep those keys in our hands and keep going along the same path.”

Monchi arrived here in the last few days. Were you able to talk to him, and about the future?

“At the present time, we’re all focused on the end of the season, on the need to keep this position and to come second in the league. We have met and the impression I got from him is the same as what I’d heard from those who know him. He’s a great person and professional, and he’ll be alongside another great professional we have: Ricky Massara. They will be able to work together and do what’s best for Roma’s future.

"What is absolutely key now, as I was saying before, is making sure we secure second spot in the league. We cannot let anything distract us from that aim. We’ve still got five games left and we want get the most we can from those.”

Is the fact that [Stephan] El Shaarawy has never been booked indicative of a limit in his approach?

“Every player has their own qualities and their own shortcomings. He’s a strong player; he knows how to attack space, turn, and cover short distances very quickly. He’s key to where we are and crucial to this Roma team. He did well at Pescara, but I’ll wait until the last minute to name my line-up. I’ll take all the time I can to make sure I get it right.”

Do you think this will be [Francesco] Totti’s last ever derby?

“I don’t know. I’ve not asked the club about it, or him. I hope it isn’t, if he wants to keep playing. But given the career he’s had, his name, even if he’s doing another job or if he goes somewhere else, the Rome derby will always be something he experiences first hand. He will be part of it, wherever he is, whatever part of the world he’s in.”

If you win, the team will have qualified for the Champions League qualifying rounds. Are you happy with the season, looking at the numbers?

“I’m very satisfied with what we’ve done. Beyond the results we’ve achieved, it’s also important that we’ve shown commitment and upheld the good name of Roma. We’ve always given our best. Yes, it’s true that at times we’ve dipped, but this Roma team has done remarkably well and should be praised, including for what they did last season.

"They’ve never given up; they’ve always stood up and been counted in difficult periods, finding a solution, bouncing back like the strong team they are, with great ability, confidence, and quality.”

Does the famous phrase 'I’ll stay if I win' carry meaning? Inzaghi has said he’s not happy with the fact the derby will be at 12:30 CEST. What do you think? Do you not think the team might be tired if they train at 5pm today?

“The length of contracts is not what matters right now. What counts are these five games. As regards the schedule for the game, I agree with my colleague Simone Inzaghi. The derby deserves to be played under the lights, with everyone’s attention, in the most pleasant surroundings possible. Night-time games have something about them.

"Furthermore, the temperature could dampen the spectacle somewhat. I’d have preferred to play this game in the evening. Why will we be training at 5pm? Because it’s more suitable, given the session we want to do. We won’t be running a lot; we won’t be doing a huge amount. We want to get everything in order from a tactical perspective, so everything is fine-tuned for the match.

"The timing works well for everything I need to do today. Playing at 12:30, however, it won’t take us by surprise and won’t bother us. We’ll make sure we’re ready tomorrow.”