View from the opposition: Torino

Fourteen games into the season, what have you made of Torino’s start to the season?

"Torino have been a bit Jekyll and Hyde since the start of 2015-16. The team began the season on the front foot, playing some great football and picking up some big wins – the 3-1 victory against Fiorentina in Week 2 above all. Then they went through a disastrous spell in October, where in five matches Torino only managed two draws and three defeats. The Granata reached their lowest point away against Carpi when they were on the wrong side of a 2-1 loss. If the team had won that game on 3 October, Torino would have been clear at the top of the league for the first time in 38 years! After a terrible October, there was another home defeat against Inter on 8 November, but Giampiero Ventura's side played well. Since the last international break, Toro have got back to winning ways – picking up a 1-0 win over Atalanta in Bergamo and a 3-0 victory at home against Bologna last time out. Summing up, you could say that we've seen the best and the worst of Torino so far. The squad is capable of highs and lows and there's a lot still to figure out over the course of the season."

How have the new summer signings settled in?




"Torino had a big overhaul in the transfer window, but managed to keep hold of their best players – aside from Matteo Darmian who moved to Manchester United. Nikola Maksimovic stayed, as did Maxi Lopez, Fabio Quagliarella and Bruno Peres. In addition to these, we've had a lot of new arrivals in Daniele Baselli, Davide Zappacosta, Andrea Belotti and Marco Benassi, who came on a permanent transfer from Inter. These four players are young, Italian and have begun the season well. Baselli stands out in particular having scored three goals in the opening three matches, taking everybody a bit by surprise with the quality in his game. Centre-forward Belotti opened his goalscoring account in the last game against Bologna, while Benassi and Zappacosta had already proved their worth with goals earlier on in the season, despite not being forwards. The good start from these players is due to Ventura's expert hand – the coach is now into his fifth season at Torino and keeps a tight leash over the dressing room – as well as the experience of the older players Emiliano Moretti, Quagiarella, Maxi Lopez and above all the captain Kamil Glik."

Who has been Torino’s most consistent player so far?

"I'll give you three names and reasons for each. I'll say Baselli first of all because of his performances in the first 14 matches. And even though he hasn't shown all of his enormous potential, I'll also say Belotti. Finally, there's Bruno Peres who has continued his fantastic form from last season. These three guys have all stood out for different reasons and I think they are some of the most important players at Torino."

What has been Torino’s best performance of the season and why?




"In terms of the quality of our performance, I would say the most recent game against Bologna at home on 28 November. The Granata dominated that game from start to finish against a team in form and created countless opportunities. Even though there was a touch of handball in Belotti's first goal, the result was nonetheless fair and thoroughly deserved. I'd also like to mention the 3-1 win against Fiorentina in Week 2, which I think was especially important from a psychological point of view. That match helped Ventura's players to realise what they are capable of. The Granata conceded very early on and were on the back foot for the first half, as Fiorentina played some wonderful football. Torino were able to bide their time and when the Viola took their foot off the gas in the second half, we managed to take the initiative and dominate the Tuscans, scoring three times in ten minutes. It was a fantastic show of strength and a confidence-booster that formed the basis of Torino's excellent start to the campaign."

What has been the worst match and what went wrong?

"The worst performance of the season has to be against Carpi at the beginning of October. Not so much because Torino were up against the team propping up the foot of the table, but because of how the players performed in that game. It was a huge setback compared to the quality of our football in the weeks before. As I've said, Torino could have gone clear at the top of Serie A for the first time in 38 years, but instead the approach to that game was completely wrong. Wasting an opportunity like that against a team that is by no means unbeatable showed Torino's fragile mental side. The team paid for that performance throughout October, only getting back to winning ways 40 days later."

Which area of the team has been the strongest so far and which has been the least effective?

"I think the defence – usually so reliable in Ventura's teams – has been lacking something this year. Although it must said they have been hit hard by injuries since the start of the season. Ventura has had to face a few emergencies at the back, with Maksimovic, Pontus Jansson and Gaston Silva all spending time in the treatment room. Things seemed to have changed for the better in the last three games, with the opposition limited to just one shot in each match – and this led to the only game of the game against Inter. With things having tightened up at the back, it's no wonder that the Granata have started to pick up results again.

"The midfield is probably the area of the team that is putting in the best performances, with Baselli, Benassi, Afriyie Acquah and Giuseppe Vives all working well. Vives is experiencing renewed vigour and has missed very few games so far, often ending up among the team's best performers. I've already mentioned Baselli and Benassi, while Acquah has also made some good contributions. That the midfield is playing so well is down to the fact that many of the players there are new. Certainly some credit should go to Ventura for being able to get the new arrivals in the centre of the park to gel straight away."

From what you’ve seen of all the Serie A teams, which side has impressed you the most so far?

"Out of the teams that have played against Torino this season, Inter have made the best impression on me. The Nerazzurri picked up a 1-0 victory in Turin with only one shot on goal and Samir Handanovic in unbeatable form. They looked like an extremely solid side. Getting three points from the Stadio Olimpico isn't easy for anybody and I was impressed by the clinical way Inter went about it. I'm sure they will be among the contenders come the end of the season."

What have you made of Roma’s start to the season?




"The Giallorossi have been a bit like Torino, hitting both the highs and the lows. Rudi Garcia's players had a wonderful start to the season before tying themselves in knots trying to play beautiful football all the time, just like the Granata who started brilliantly but then lost their way against Carpi. Perhaps the ramifications are greater for the Giallorossi because obviously the squad, the atmosphere in the capital and the club's objectives are all different, so everything gets blown out of proportion at Roma. This is exactly what happened after the home defeat against Atalanta."

Who is the Roma player most Torino fans fear?




"Gervinho if he plays. He is the one Torino fans fear the most and he's hurt the Granata before. Another player Torino fans are wary of – as well as respecting his combative style – is Radja Nainggolan. I think that if the Belgian played for the Granata, he would be the fans' number one hero because of his warrior-like spirit."

If you could add one Roma player to Torino’s team, who would you pick and why?

"In terms of his place in the history of football, I think that any football fan would love to see Francesco Totti in their team. Obviously this would never happen and I know it's just a fantasy. One player who would help Torino to make that leap in quality to almost being a title contender is Miralem Pjanic. Any coach would want the Bosnian playing for them and I think he'd make a difference to any side."

What’s your score prediction for Saturday?

"I don't want to be vague on purpose, but I think Torino v Roma could go one of three ways, in the sense that all three results are possible. On the one hand, the Granata have got a great opportunity to get the victory, based on their excellent form and the slump the Giallorossi are currently going through. Also, Torino haven't beaten Roma at home for around 25 years and records have to tumble sooner or later. That said, if you look at the squads from a realistic point of view, you would say the result should be a draw at least. With the team Roma have, I don't think they should be leaving Turin empty-handed. If Garcia's players react in the right way to this poor run of results, they could even take home all three points. We'll see, it could go one of three ways and it's difficult to predict."