Fonseca: We know how important this game is

Read everything coach Paulo Fonseca had to say ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash against Istanbul Basaksehir.

The game in the Turkish capital gets underway at 18:55 CET.

Qualifying for the next round has become very tricky. Do you still think you can do it?

“We're confident and we always set out to win regardless of the game. The same goes tomorrow: we must go out there to win it even if it is difficult.”

Do you think the emotion of the occasion might get to Cengiz Under?

“We'll see tomorrow. I don't think about things like that when I pick the team.”

Basaksehir haven't lost since the first game in Rome 11 weeks ago. What are you expecting tomorrow?

“Tomorrow is going to be a difficult match because they're in great form. They're an experienced side, they play good football and they're at home. We know it's a big game for them too but we want to win tomorrow.”

Cengiz is very famous around these parts and there's lots of attention on Mert Cetin as well. What sort of prospects do they have? What do they need to improve?

“They're young players with bright futures. They must work to improve but we believe in them. There's always room for improvement. Cetin hasn't been with us long while Cengiz has had time to adapt to Italian football. There are always areas where you need to improve at that age but they have great futures ahead of them.”

Has Daniel Fuzato been added to Roma's UEFA squad list? Was excluding Juan Jesus from the matchday squad a football decision?

“We can't have everyone with us for UEFA matches, only 18 players. We added Fuzato because Antonio Mirante is injured.”

Did you expect this game to be decisive for qualification?

“I can't be thinking about what happened in the past, only tomorrow. It's a big match and we want to win it.”

Is Lorenzo Pellegrini ready to play both tomorrow and against Verona?

“Pellegrini is always ready to play.”

Are Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Nikola Kalinic match-fit?

“They're fit enough to play but they don't have 90 minutes in them just yet.”

What's your relationship with president Pallotta like? Do you speak to him often?

“Yes, we speak regularly and he always makes his support for the team felt. He wants to know about everything.”

Have you asked him about possible changes to the club structure?

“I'm a coach and I only talk to the president about football matters.”