Fonseca impressed by Udinese's defensive resolve

Sunday's game at the Stadio Olimpico gets underway at 12:30 CET - the start of an intensive run of eight games in the space of a month for the Giallorossi.

Here's what the Portuguese had to say...

Will there be some changes in defence? Perhaps Bryan Cristante will be among the centre-backs again – and will Pau Lopez continue in goal?

“Yes, Pau Lopez will start tomorrow. The issue with the goals we’ve conceded is not just down to the centre-backs, but it’s down to the whole team. We are working to improve on that aspect.

"Yesterday Marash Kumbulla had a little knock in training, and now we need to check how he is doing with the medical team. If Marash does not play, then Cristante is a possible replacement.”

How has Edin Dzeko been doing in training? Will you continue with Borja Mayoral in attack?

“Dzeko is training well. Mayoral is training well too. As for who will play, we’ll see tomorrow.”

How are Pedro and Stephan El Shaarawy? And where do you see the latter’s best position?

“Pedro is ready to play, he’ll be available. El Shaarawy still has work to do, however. He’s not played for a long time. Physically he’s not in peak shape, even if he has now trained with us for the last two weeks. We are working hard to have him available soon, but Stephan’s condition means it’s not ideal for him to be involved tomorrow.

“As for his position, El Shaarawy is a winger. He’s already absorbing what we are telling him we want from him. He’s a smart player and he will adapt to our system without issue.”

Considering that the Europa League returns on Thursday, could your choices for tomorrow be influenced by that match?

“No, we are thinking only about the game against Udinese. That’s it. That’s the most important thing. As for the Europa League, we’ll start thinking about it tomorrow [after the game].”

Did the players ask you to restore Edin Dzeko as club captain?

“I know that there are always going to be questions like this, but I don’t want to talk about this topic any more. You can keep asking in these press conferences, but my words on the matter will always be the same.”

Luca Gotti has said that you are among the best coaches around. Do you feel like you are better regarded outside Rome than around the city?

“It’s nice to hear comments like that from colleagues, but I feel like I get the same respect here at Roma too.”

Cristante has been used in a number of roles this season – centre-back, midfielder, even as a trequartista like in Turin. Tomorrow will we see him back in defence?

“Cristante didn’t play as a trequartista against Juventus – we don’t play with a trequartista. I always like to have versatile players in my squad, though. He’s a really intelligent boy, who knows how to play in a lot of different situations. He really understands what is required of him in whichever position he might be picked to play.”

In the derby there was an offside in the build-up to the second goal. Against Juventus, Rabiot seemed to foul Gonzalo Villar in the box. And yet on neither occasion were there any protests from the players. Don’t you think that shows a lack of fight within the group?

“The attitude and aggression of a side isn’t measured by how much they complain to the officials. You see it as the game is being played. And I think the side have always shown that. The officials should not be influenced by what the players are doing in front of them.”

You said last week that Roma are not prepared to play with two upfront. Don’t you think that is a shortcoming?

“I am the one that coaches the squad. I am the one that works with them every day. I am the one who understands the way the side needs to play. If I think we need to play with two strikers, then we will play with two strikers. But my decision will never be influenced by questions like this. I will decide when and why we play two strikers together.”

It is now a month since Tiago Pinto joined the club as General Manager. Have you noticed a change in the day-to-day running of the club?

“Tiago has not been here long, but he’s doing important work alongside the first-team squad. He’s changing things that will prove important for the club’s future. The true value of his work is something that will become clear over the longer term. I have no doubt about that.”

Against Juventus you struggled to break down the opposition in the final third. Are you expecting a similar challenge against Udinese?

“Udinese have the fifth best defence in Serie A right now. They are really, really good defensively. This is one of the hardest propositions in football; going up against a side that defends tightly close to their own goal. And then when a team like Juventus does it too, it’s even harder.

"This week we have worked really hard on those moments in a game, so I think that tomorrow the team will do much better against a side that knows how to close the spaces really well.”

You are now starting a run of eight games in the space of a month. What will the squad need most of all to get through this period?

“We need to focus on each game as it comes, and always have the same ambition to win.”

To win tomorrow will you need to be patient, just as you were in the first meeting?

“We’ll see tomorrow. Recently Udinese have picked up some great results. They defend well, they are well organised. They have a really great coach, who organises and drills his side really well. It will be tough, but we need to remember that we have prepared well this week and we really want to win.”