Fonseca expects tough test from in-form Benevento

Paulo Fonseca faced the media on Saturday afternoon, as he previewed the forthcoming return to Serie A action against Benevento.

The Giallorossi host the promoted side at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday evening, with kick-off at 20:45 local time.

Here's what the boss had to say about the contest...

What’s your plan for Lorenzo Pellegrini? Have his performances for the national team over the past week changed your thinking on whether or not he is best used in central midfield?

“Lorenzo can play in a number of different positions. For example, against Hellas Verona he played in the same role he played in for Italy. Over the first three games this season he’s done really well for us.

"In the system we use, he can play in central midfield, he can play behind the striker – he can play in different positions.”

This summer you had four right-backs on the books. But the one that left was the only one who has played in the Champions League, who is also a starter for his country. With the formation you use now, wasn’t it an error to let a player like that leave?

“I’ve already spoken about this. I wanted Alessandro Florenzi to stay with us because of the system we are now playing. I spoke to the player, but he decided he wanted to play for a team like Paris Saint-Germain. I understood his thought process. But it was my intention to keep Florenzi - because it is clear that in this setup he could have been useful for us.”

A lot is said about your relationship with Edin Dzeko. It is said that after the game against Sevilla [last season] there was an issue between you two. What is your relationship like now?

“There’s no issue with Dzeko. He’s motivated, he’s training well; my relationship with him is good. I repeat, there’s no issue.”

If Antonio Mirante is the starting goalkeeper in Serie A, does that mean Pau Lopez will start in the Europa League?

“Mirante will be the starter against Benevento. Beyond that, we shall see.”

In your interview this week with Portuguese newspaper Record you said a few times that the club needs a sporting director. Does that have an impact on your daily work? Do you like that extra support?

“The club is looking for a sporting director. Because we need to have one. It’s really important to have a figure like that in every club. And it’s an important role for us too.”

In the same interview you said that more could have been done in the transfer window. Do you think, with the current squads, Roma are worse off than Lazio, AC Milan and Napoli?

“I said that no coach is ever completely satisfied. We always want me. That’s normal. But I never said that we can’t fight for our targets with this team. In fact I said the opposite. We want to fight against those teams. We want to do better than last season, we want to be in the battle for the Champions League spots.”

Given that Smalling and Mancini will be absent this week in the Europa League, could Federico Fazio and Juan Jesus – who you haven’t called on recently – be welcomed back as part of the squad?

“Jesus and Fazio are here with us, they are training with the squad. After that, it’s up to me. I will make the decision based on each particular game and our needs.”

You have suggested that the squad lacks another creative attacking player. To resolve that issue, especially with so many games in such a short period, could we see Dzeko and Borja Mayoral play together?

“It could happen, at different stages during games, where we have two strikers on the pitch. But I think it’s unlikely we’d start a game like that. It depends a bit on the context of the game. But right now the squad is working on playing with a different setup.”

Could Gonzalo Villar possibly play more, and further forward? How is he doing in training?

“Villar is a promising player. He’s learning a lot, he’s learning to do what I want from him. It’s hard for him to play in the same role as Pedro or Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but he can play as a trequartista or further back. He’s doing well and he will play in lots of games this season.”

Benevento come to the Stadio Olimpico with two wins from their opening three games – will that confidence make things harder for you?

“Benevento are a really good side. They are couragious, they are confident right now and they have a good coach. They come to Rome with confidence, having only lost against Inter. They have experienced players, a strong group, it’ll be a difficult game. We don’t have any doubt about that.”

You now have seven games in 21 days, between Serie A and the Europa League. Will rotation be important?

“Yes, for every coach it’s important to manage the squad well when you have so many games in a short space of time.”