Iachini: Udinese respect Roma but we go there to win

The two teams will officially get the 2016-17 Serie A season underway when the game kicks off at 18:00 CEST and, while Iachini is fully aware of Roma’s quality, it seems Udinese will not turn up with a defensive mindset.

"We know we face a big team coached by a great coach,” Iachini said in his pre-match press conference. “It's a test that will give us some answers on many aspects, more than just the result. The team is still developing.

“Roma are a team that is beginning to know each other well, thanks to the coach.

“They have very good players in every position and it does not make much difference who plays. It changes the point of attack slightly if the offensive pivot is [Edin] Dzeko, [Francesco] Totti or [Diego] Perotti, but we are ready for all eventualities. The defensive line knows what to do and how to do it. Concentration and focus will be especially important.

"We respect Roma, but we will go there to create, with courage.”

Iachini will come up against a familiar foe in Luciano Spalletti, a man who was his coach when the Udinese boss was a veteran midfielder at Venezia at the turn of the millennium. Some have already seen some similarities in the management styles of the two men.

"It's nice that [Udinese owner] Pozzo has likened me to Spalletti,” Iachini added. “I know how good he is because I had him as a coach myself.

"I'll pick a balanced side suitable for the match. We have a number of options up front and they all offer something different.

"Felipe trained this morning and he's in the squad. Kone is better but we prefer to wait a bit longer. The younger lads need to do lots of work on tactics. In Serie A the slightest error can lose you the game."