Di Francesco: We know how good Atalanta are against top sides

The Giallorossi head to Bergamo for a game that could have significant implications in the race for the top four.

Read what the boss had to say below...

Daniele De Rossi is back with the rest of the squad after a while out. How has he responded and will he be available?

“I’m very happy with the way he’s responded. He was in the squad for the home match against Genoa but that was more to give moral support to the team. This time he’s really available. He won’t be able to play 90 minutes, but his knee has held up well.”

How do you take on Atalanta, who are one of the most in-form sides in the league?

“I think very highly of Gian Piero Gasperini. He has built a very physical and technical side. He knows what he wants from the team and they implement what they do in training. We need to make sure we match them for physicality – it will be a hard-fought game against a team that have always performed well against the top sides. We need to impose our way of playing, despite the qualities they have.”

Could you use Nicolo Zaniolo wide on the right tomorrow, like you did against Torino?

“We had a few fitness issues in training with [Alessandro] Florenzi and [Lorenzo] Pellegrini – they’ll need to be assessed tomorrow. We have many options that could work. I’ll need to weigh things up. Florenzi could play there, as could [Justin] Kluivert and [Patrik] Schick. These are options I’m considering for the match and those that follow.”

How is Edin Dzeko’s fitness?

“He’s getting better – he trained well, and consistently, this week. The psychological side is more important because it’s imperative for attackers to score goals. He was happy with the win against Torino after the game. He makes a good contribution to the team – he’s a savvy player and gets the team moving. I’m sure he’ll get back scoring soon.”

You’ve got four players at risk of a ban, three of which are in midfield. Is that something that could influence your selection?

“I’m not thinking about that. I’ll pick the right team to play Atalanta. We’ll assess things after that.”

Does Rick Karsdorp have it in him to play three consecutive games?

“I think he does. He had time to recover during the week and was able to rest up in some training sessions, when he had a lighter work load. He could play at full-back – he’s in the running with [Davide] Santon. I say that in light of the qualities of our opponents.”

Can Atalanta compete for fourth place? Could Inter get drawn into that battle?

“We need to try and finish fourth, given that we’re currently in fifth place. Inter have a bit of breathing space but we know that you need to perform game after game if you’re to get the necessary points. Atalanta are a team to be feared in this race. The only other competition they’re in is the Coppa Italia. They’re a fearsome opponent. With their stadium and the set-up they’ve got there, Gasperini’s men are able to perform. They’re a strong side.”

What do you think of Atalanta’s Gianluca Mancini?

“I’ll say what I said last time: I’m not going to talk about players that aren’t at Roma, especially during the transfer window.”

Is Steven Nzonzi ready to start a game?

“We’re going to be up against a physical side, so he could be useful in this game. He trained all week and has recovered from the issues he had. He could be involved.”

Are there any young players you might loan out in this transfer window?

“We’re assessing the situation but it’s still early. All parties need to be in agreement, and we need to consider the needs and desire of the players in question. These are all Roma players – they’ve got quality and are important to us. If they’re not getting enough playing time, we’ll assess the situation. That’s what the sporting director is doing. I only need to worry about on-field matters.”

Will you look to battle Atalanta, or will you focus more on showing your quality?

“If you look at their attack, you see Atalanta have quality themselves. They run a lot with the ball and have individual quality. You need to be up to that physical battle too and have the ability to get the ball up the pitch and find space. It will be an open game at a tough ground.”