Cengiz confident improvement will continue

After back-to-back wins heading into the winter break, the Giallorossi picked up where they left off last year – with the Stadio Olimpico enjoying a comprehensive performance against the Serie C side.

Eusebio Di Francesco’s side will now face Fiorentina for a place in the semi-finals of the competition, although before that there is the need to pick up points in Serie A.

“We won the last two games of 2018 and now we have won the first of this year,” Cengiz said.

“I am certain that we will keep getting better and climb the table. I’m happy with the fact that we all came back fit and healthy after the international break – that’s a positive sign.

“Scoring after 20 seconds meant we could play with more freedom, we did not stop though and we scored a couple more. I hope that this is something that continues in the next few games. We know we have to keep producing, both in the cup and Serie A.”

It was Patrik Schick who scored the goal – beating Cengiz’s personal record from February last year, where he took barely 40 seconds to score against Hellas Verona. That strike was Roma’s fastest in Serie A in nearly six years.

“The difference is that I scored in Serie A and him in the cup – plus I gave him the assist anyway!” Cengiz joked.

“But I’m pleased for him, he did well: he scored twice and hope that he keeps playing like that.”