Fonseca: Dzeko is ready and will start

The game at the Stadio San Paolo - which will feature a number of tributes to the late Diego Maradona - gets underway at 20:45 local time, with both sides looking for a statement win to enhance their aspirations for the season.

Here's everything the boss had to say ahead of the contest.

Is Edin Dzeko ready to start tomorrow? And what about in defence: how are Chris Smalling, Gianluca Mancini and Roger Ibanez doing?

“Dzeko will start tomorrow, he’s ready. Mancini and Ibanez have both trained today, so there’s a good chance we’ll see both of them on the pitch tomorrow.”

Could the winner of tomorrow’s game emerge as a real alternative title contender to Juventus and Inter Milan?

“We are still at the beginning of the season, we still need to play a few more games before we can make any assessments. Inter and Juventus are fighting to win the title, I think, but beyond that there are six or seven other sides that are doing well and could push them. However, as I said, it’s still too early.”

Are Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pedro more important to the team for their quality on the pitch, or the mentality they bring off it?

“Both. They seem like two kids who have just started playing football today. They always have a great, positive attitude.”

During the last few press conferences we haven’t seen you smiling much. Has something been annoying you over the last few weeks?

“No – perhaps I’m a bit more serious before games because I’m focused on the match!”

Is Jordan Veretout irreplaceable to the team, for the unique qualities he brings to the side – not least from set pieces?

“Jordan is clearly a really important player for us, it’s true he has some unique characteristics. But we don’t have any irreplaceable players – we’ve shown that all the players have the ability to play well with our identity.”

Are Roma ready to win against another top side like Napoli?

“We didn’t win against Juventus or Milan but we played them to a draw, and in both games I think we had chances to bring home a different result too. We want to show what we are about, playing well and with courage.”

Are Lorenzo Pellegrini and Dzeko both ready to start after their runouts in the Europa League in midweek?

“Yes, they are ready.”

Sixteen games unbeaten – on the pitch - in Serie A, with the last loss coming against Napoli. Four months on, has this Roma side changed more tactically or mentally?

“We’ve improved in a lot of ways. The team is playing with confidence, with the right attitude. It’s true that when you are winning there is more confidence, but we’ve improved a lot.”

Against Parma, a good defensive side, we saw Bryan Cristante and Gonzalo Villar both work to build moves from deep, enabling Veretout to push forward and attack the spaces. Against Napoli, who like to win the ball back high and start attacking counters quickly, could we see a similar approach?

“Yes, that is part of the way we always want to play. We have prepared a few specific things based on this game, but our overall ambitions are the same.”

What sort of game are you expecting on Sunday? Napoli have had their ups and downs, but they have a lot of quality...

“I’m expecting a tough game. Napoli are one of the best sides in the league. I’ve watched all their games, including the ones they lost, and in quite a few of them they deserved more. They are a strong side that plays good football.”

Is this the hardest game of the season so far?

“They are all tough games, even when we are playing against sides further down the table. I always expect difficult matches, whoever we are facing, and tomorrow will definitely be another one of those.”