Veretout: We know how important this game is

The Giallorossi host the Ukrainian side at the Stadio Olimpico knowing that a victory would clinch their place in the next phase of the competition - but that anything else could leave them in a perilous position in the group.

Here's what the France international midfielder had to say ahead of the contest...

Tomorrow is a vital game – almost like a final. How are you preparing? Did you expect to be in this situation of having to play a must-win game?

“We know that this is a very important game. We are in the Conference League looking to try to win it, but if we lost tomorrow it would mean we are out. So we will go into the game tomorrow like it is a final, with that sort of desire to win.”

You came to Roma wanting to use it as a way to earn a call-up for France – and you have recently achieved that. Now what are your targets with Roma?

“The primary target was to do really well with Roma and to earn an international call-up. That was part of the reason I came here. I am very pleased [I was able to do that].

“Now I want to win something with Roma and make sure we do as well as we possibly can. My agent and the general manager talk and the club knows what they want to do – but I am a Romanista and I want to stay here.”

In Genoa you played almost as a regista – how did you find that? Is it something you have been working on?

“I found it fine – I played there for a year with Fiorentina. I can also play as a mezzala and I like that: it allows me to push forward more where I can make a difference, I can run into the spaces a bit more.

“But I also like playing as a mediano or regista, because you are always on the ball and you get to help out the defence. I will play whatever role the boss asks of me. And if he asks me to play as a mediano then I will do it.”

Can it become almost a handicap as a midfielder to be needed to play in every single game?

“I started the season well. Yes, I haven’t played in the same way I was over the last month or so – but it is difficult to play in every game, even if as players we obviously always want to play.

“Now I am rested and recovered, physically I feel much better than a month ago. I am disappointed I won’t be able to play on Sunday against Torino [due to suspension], but right now we are focused on the game tomorrow – which is a really important one for us.

“Then I will have a short rest, even if we have a game against Bologna straight after to prepare for. It’s not a problem for me. I’m disappointed I won’t be able to help the team on Sunday but for now we are focused on the game against Zorya. We want to put in a great performance.”