Garcia: Napoli v Roma won't decide the title race

The two teams head into their Week 16 meeting at the Stadio San Paolo separated by three points with current league leaders Inter a further two ahead, but the boss insists that, while important, the game comes far too early in the campaign to have any decisive bearing on the Scudetto race.

"We're not even halfway through the season yet," Garcia reminded the gathered media during a press conference at Trigoria on Saturday.

"We're determined to get a good result against a quality side who will have a big crowd behind them. We pose a fair threat ourselves too though and we'll be focused on bringing that to the fore tomorrow."

The boss also commented on the pessimistic mood currently sweeping the city: "From what I hear, you'd think it's Italy's worst team heading off to play the best in the country but we're not going there on a hiding to nothing. We're aiming to get a result."

How have you been preparing for this game?
"It seems like we've already lost so all we can do is go there and try to upset the odds. The build-up to this match reminds me of what it was like before the derby when we were drained after the Champions League while they had rotated their squad in the Europa League. It also reminds me of the build-up to our trip to Fiorentina. My players will have to pull out all the stops over the next three games."

You'll be playing in front of a full house at the San Paolo tomorrow. Can the crowd's influence be decisive?
"I liked Alessandro Florenzi's answer after the BATE game when he said that he'd rather be booed by 70,000 people. A full stadium gives you strength and it helps carry you. It puts pressure on your opponents and the referee so I just hope the Olimpico can go back to being the same as it was. Then of course it's up to us to secure the results to get the fans back on our side."

Getting out of your Champions League group was the first target for the season. How much of a boost is that?
"It's certainly very important for us to go into this game against Napoli with qualification in the bag. By the time February comes round Roma will be very different because we'll have everyone available, there will be less pressure and we can start afresh. We'll see what the draw has in store for us on Monday. We're delighted to have got through the group stage, even if we did struggle a bit. The players did very well to keep things tight towards the end of the game. We tried to win it but we also knew it was important not to concede because a draw was enough to take us through."

What impresses you most about Napoli? Their defensive organisation or the way they get the best out of Gonzalo Higuain?
"Higuain has done superbly since coming to Italy and he's settled in perfectly. Maurizio Sarri is a good coach, Napoli have top players and they score lots of goals but are also very good defensively. They get the ball forward quickly and are good at set pieces – we know that."

Is it possible to put the shackles on Higuain?
"We'll find out tomorrow. He's a top player but we have top players of our own up front. It's not just about coming up with a plan to keep Higuain quiet because Napoli have lots of quality forwards. We're not firing on all cylinders at the moment and we're missing a few players but we're capable of showing people that we still have the best attack in Serie A."

Did you think Edin Dzeko could struggle as much as he has?
"What I said about Higuain is true for Dzeko as well. He hasn't been here long, he has to learn the language and get used to Italian football and that understandably takes time. It's also normal to go through periods when you score less – for him as it is for the best strikers in the world. If Edin keeps working hard for the team, the goals will come for him. He has to stay relaxed and not get caught up with the idea that he has to score. If the team wins, then everything is fine. If he scores as well, it's even better. He's a top player and a great guy who will score a hatful of goals – I'm sure about that."

How are Gervinho and Mohamed Salah doing?
"Salah is fine. He came on against BATE and played well. He could start against Napoli or perhaps come off the bench. The same goes for Gervinho. He had a fitness test before the BATE game but didn't feel 100% so we decided not to risk him."

How do you explain the pessimism in the city despite the fact you progressed to the next round?
"We're not saying everything is perfect but it's no disaster either. You need a sense of balance – not get too depressed or too carried away. Not having a full stadium is making it hard for us and it doesn't depend on us or the club. We really miss the Curva Sud, the core of our fans. We've been missing a big element of support since the start of the season."

There was talk of an argument between Kostas Manolas and Miralem Pjanic after the BATE match. Could that be seen as a good thing?
"It's further proof of the fact that the players care and want to win. We all wanted to win against BATE but not if we had to risk conceding. You do get a bit of tension after a match where the pressure's on but they've cleared the air now. They're both important figures for us on the pitch and in the dressing room. You need to have respect in the dressing room and it's important to have that even when voices get raised."

What have you discussed with James Pallotta this week?
"I don't normally go to journalists and tell them what happens in the dressing room or between myself and the management. All I can say is that the President saw the Prefect and that means he wants to do everything possible to create the best conditions for our fans to support the team."