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Here's what the boss had to say:
“First of all, I'll give you some news from the treatment room. Apart from [Norbert] Gyomber, Iago Falque and [Salih] Ucan, everyone else will be taking part in training this afternoon, including the players who have had niggles during the week.”
Is 12:30 a difficult time to play at?
“After our video analysis we normally go out for training around midday so it's the perfect time for us really. 3 pm is actually a more unusual time for us. I must say that I learnt a lot while I was working in Russia. For example, when we went to play in Tomsk in Siberia there was a five-hour flight with a four-hour time difference. The match was at midday which meant it was like playing at 8 am for us. That's when I learnt that you need to be able play at any time and in any temperature. I think that's something we could do with bearing in mind in Italy too. There are certain TV requirements that need to be respected so we have to be able to play well whatever the time.”
Is this game against Atalanta similar to the Bologna match in some respects?
“I think it could be a different game. Atalanta are a solid side and [Edoardo] Reja is a good coach who always manages to get the best out of the players at his disposal. He has pacy forwards who can beat their man and they can play attacking football, especially with their wingers. It will be an open game.”
What do you think of video technology being trialled in matches next season?
“At long last, I say. I totally agree with it. It's only right that teams should get what they deserve during the game. I'd even go a step further and have a set amount of time with the ball in play as I think it would make for a better spectacle. I'd also allow five substitutions, maybe at the end of the first half, although if you're playing with actual playing time then I think you should be able to make as many as you like because it wouldn't break up the game. In our last match [Antonio] Mirante had the ball 15% of the time and it really breaks play up. So I vote for video replays, actual playing time and five substitutions. It would make for a greater spectacle and players who are struggling could be replaced by others. It would be good for teams to be able to put out everything they've got.”
How much of an effect does an empty Olimpico or the lack of travelling fans tomorrow have? There'll be 60,000 at San Siro tonight, for example.
“Inter v Napoli could go either way because both teams want to win. They both play good football and have lots of good players so it's a hard one to call. I don't think either side is favourite. You see some wonderful atmospheres at foreign grounds – like at Anfield, for example. Full stadiums. I'd like people to talk about those things. I tried to give my view on the lack of fans at the Olimpico and I got it wrong because I don't really know what discussions have been had and I mentioned people I shouldn't have. I don't know all the details behind it. All I can say is that I'm sorry and that the fans' absence is a huge disadvantage for teams with a passionate following such as Roma. If we had a stadium like the sort I see in many European games I'm sure it would give us something extra during the match itself. It would be a massive boost for us. But we need to accept the situation and not look for excuses. We have a good team and we need to win our games regardless, which is what the lads have been doing recently.”
Are Edin Dzeko and Francesco Totti both available for selection tomorrow?
“Dzeko is a superb player who had a muscle problem on Sunday, otherwise I would have played him – which is probably what I'll do tomorrow unless he struggles today. Francesco could play tomorrow too although it depends on what sort of game it is. He's another superb player who's in my thoughts as much as Dzeko.”
Were you surprised that Gonzalo Higuain's suspension was reduced?
“Here in Trigoria we need to be smart enough to assess certain things carefully. If I had an excellent player who was suspended we'd still want to win every game and I'd try to make sure the team didn't miss him too much. Whether Napoli have someone like Higuain available or not shouldn't make any difference to us. He's a Napoli player and we're Roma. It's good for them if they can make use of all their players. We need to show we can match them and be better than them, regardless of who plays. It all boils down to having belief in your own ability. It would be a sign of weakness if you hoped for your opponents to be missing someone. We're happy if a great player is playing against us.”
Did you have contact with Aurelio De Laurentiis last summer?
“I spoke to a lot of people, just as my players did. However, if I answered a question like that, I’d be making the sort of mistake my players mustn’t at this moment in time. There are rumours from friends, enemies, whisperings. What matters is what I’m party to in terms of transfer talk. What I know is we have to stay strong until June and then we’ll qualify all of the different rumours. Everyone is staying until June and they need to get their heads down. Then we’ll make some decisions over players and in my case the club will make a call. All rumours, be they past or future, mean something. In my case, however, there are no rumours at this moment in time. It’s Roma’s results on the pitch that matter, end of. Now we have to win football matches, without any interference.”
Daniele De Rossi featured for 90 minutes for the first time in two months. What did you make of his performance and how is he? Will he still be at Roma next season?
“We have to consider a number of factors. Seydou Keita has performed well in that position every time I’ve picked him there. De Rossi is returning to full fitness and is showing what he can offer. Kevin [Strootman] is coming back and needs some playing time, he has to start being involved in matches. It’s a tough one to weigh up in that position but we always think in terms of what’s in the interests of the team and how to get a result. I’ve already spoken about transfers. I won’t speak about next season and we have to be mindful of steering clear of rumours that don’t pertain to our current target, which we have to achieve between now and June. I’ll answer any questions on that once the season is over.”
Events at AC Milan have taken the total to nine teams who have changed their coach this season. Are coaches afforded less time or is the game changing?
“If you look at the statistics, they’re rather embarrassing. Coaches always need to be ready to take over or replace someone. I’m disappointed that Sinisa [Mihajlovic] didn’t have the chance to be in charge of a final that he earned but I don’t know what was said between them or how they worked. Mihajlovic remains a good coach with a big personality and he'll have a great career. Coming back to us, I’m a coach with no feelings and no soul – all I think about is Roma’s results and I see a lot of similarities in the way Sinisa works too.”
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