Bavagnoli targets strong finish with much still to play for

Saturday’s Serie A meeting with Pink Bari – the final home match of the season – kicks off a vital run of three games in eight days, games that could see Roma secure a top-four finish in Serie A, reach the final of the Coppa Italia and, perhaps, have a decisive say in the final destination of this season’s title.

The Giallorosse know one more win will be enough for them to finish fourth but, with Pink Bari fighting for survival, there will be no guarantees when the two sides meet at the club’s Trigoria training centre.

“We’ve really been focusing on the mental aspect in the last few weeks,” Bavagnoli said.

“Obviously we are always working on the technical side of things, you have to keep working on that, and especially after the results of our last two matches. But we need to work on the mental side too, because we are coming to the end of a long season and, as for any side, male or female, there is a bit fatigue to fight against as you enter the final stretch.

“It’s tough, especially with the international break coming again recently too, but we’ve been working hard and we are ready to go again.”

Following the game against Bari, Roma have two meetings with Fiorentina on the cards. On Wednesday the sides meet in the second leg of the Coppa Italia semi-finals, after the first leg at Stadio Tre Fontane was drawn 1-1.

Then, at the weekend, the season ends against the same opposition in Florence – with La Viola perhaps needing to win to secure the title.

“In the next eight days we have three huge games to play, but we also have some huge targets to chase,” the coach added.

“For the club, for ourselves and for those who work with us we have a responsibility to perform to our best, and so we need to manage everything, our resources, our mental energy, our fitness, as best we can over these next three games.”